skill set

American

[skil-set] / ˈskɪlˌsɛt /

Or skillset

noun

a particular combination of skills that a person has developed, especially ones that can be used in a job.

She doesn't have the proper skill set to be an effective manager.

Etymology

Origin of skill set

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During live shoots, however, background actors stay silent and mime their conversations, “a skill set in and of itself,” Gemmill says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

It feels like I am stuck in a low-income trap with this skill set.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

"The retailer expects e-commerce to disproportionately drive its growth," UBS said, adding that Guggina "has the background and the skill set to lead this effort."

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

The Rams selected the diminutive-but-speedy receiver in the second round of the 2021 draft, but McVay, who is regarded as perhaps the best offensive mind in football, never fully maximized Atwell’s skill set.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

That’s when it became clear that the attendants’ entire skill set was limited to opening the spigots and closing them again.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023