proficient

[ pruh-fish-uhnt ]

adjective

1. well-advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject; skilled:

   a proficient swimmer.

   Synonyms: accomplished, experienced, competent, adept, finished, able

   Antonyms: inept, unskilled

noun

1. an expert.

proficient

/ prəˈfɪʃənt /

adjective

1. having great facility (in an art, occupation, etc); skilled

noun

1. an archaic word for an expert

Derived Forms

• proˈficiency, noun
• proˈficiently, adverb

Other Words From

• pro·fi·cient·ly adverb
• pro·fi·cient·ness noun
• o·ver·pro·fi·cient adjective
• un·der·pro·fi·cient adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of proficient¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin prōficient-, stem of prōficiēns, present participle of prōficere “to advance, make progress,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + -ficere, combining form of facere “to make, do”; do, efficient

Word History and Origins

Origin of proficient¹

C16: from Latin prōficere to make progress, from pro- ¹+ facere to make

Example Sentences

For reading, 37 percent of students ranked proficient or advanced, with 24 percent at least proficient in math.

From Washington Post

Similarly, researchers have demonstrated that the deep networks most proficient at classifying speech, music and simulated scents have architectures that seem to parallel the brain’s auditory and olfactory systems.

From Quanta Magazine

“Areas with the lowest turnout, which were largely poor and frequently not always English proficient … also have extremely low rates of mail-in ballot applications,” Schmidt said.

From ProPublica

English-learners are students with a different home language, who are not yet proficient in English.

From Voice of San Diego

Web development is all about evolving and stepping up the game you are currently very proficient in.

From Search Engine Watch

For others, those ninjutsu-proficient reptiles were nefarious liberal propaganda.

From The Daily Beast

But to some people, those ninjutsu-proficient teen-turtles also meant nefarious liberal propaganda.

From The Daily Beast

Lots of things that now seem canonical would not have been accessible to Leonardo, who was not that proficient in Latin.

From The Daily Beast

The test runs about two hours and was quite proficient at identifying the mentally disturbed—especially those prone to violence.

From The Daily Beast

The Miscegenation Ball was an exception in its otherwise bland, though proficient, catalog.

From The Daily Beast

To suddenly discover oneself proficient where failure had been feared increases self esteem and adds to the sum of happiness.

From Project Gutenberg

In Greek especially she was proficient, and Plato was to her more interesting than any story book.

From Project Gutenberg

Only the most proficient students were allowed to attend public secondary schools.

From Project Gutenberg

At last in desperation, I tried my only remaining tune, not being very proficient on the flute.

From Project Gutenberg

To become proficient in the Sechwana language was the earnest purpose of Robert Moffat.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accomplished
• adept
• apt
• capable
• competent
• conversant
• efficient
• experienced
• gifted
• qualified
• skillful
• talented
• trained
• versed