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

“I think this is probably the need for them to make sure that they are proficient at the kinds of actions they would need to do in the Caribbean.”

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"The law changes with escorting has removed the protection for the catcher, so we are now seeing the most proficient and athletic guys in the air, which is being celebrated."

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Less than a third of Chicago eighth grade students are proficient in reading and math.

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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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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