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

Other Word Forms

• proficiently adverb
• proficientness noun
• overproficient adjective
• underproficient adjective
• proficiency noun

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

Their average exit velocity is third-worst, and they are especially proficient at banging the ball into the ground.

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The trend was similar for math, with fewer students advanced or proficient overall.

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“She spent like two weeks teaching me how to snowboard, and I became proficient enough to become a guide… We started guiding each other, and then running.”

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Bodhana's dad Siva said "nobody at all" in his family was proficient at chess before his daughter took up the game.

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Ben Nee-Nee and a determined Duncan Paia'aua were able to get two back for the hosts at Eden Park, but Scotland dominated all areas in a much more proficient and disciplined performance.

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Related Words

• accomplished 
• adept 
• apt 
• capable 
• competent 
• conversant 
• efficient 
• experienced 
• gifted 
• qualified 
• skillful 
• talented 
• trained www.thesaurus.com
• versed