skilled
Americanadjective
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having skill; trained or experienced in work that requires skill.
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showing, involving, or requiring skill, as certain work.
adjective
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possessing or demonstrating accomplishment, skill, or special training
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(prenominal) involving skill or special training
a skilled job
Related Words
See skillful.
Other Word Forms
- multiskilled adjective
- nonskilled adjective
- overskilled adjective
- underskilled adjective
- well-skilled adjective
Etymology
Origin of skilled
Explanation
Anyone skilled has special abilities. A skilled mechanic from the future might build a flying car. Then a skilled rapper can write a cool song about it. A skill is a well-earned talent, like being able to ride a bike, write a script, or spin a basketball on your finger. If you have skills, you're skilled! Congratulations. Being skilled in something usually requires practice. A skilled politician wins elections. A skilled hitter in baseball has a high batting average. A highly skilled job is one that requires special training. The opposite of skilled is unskilled, which would apply to someone without a particular talent.
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.
While it is true that some opponents were less skilled than others, the collisions with all of them were just as real.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
The course—Omni PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch East—was designed to challenge the sport’s most skilled competitors; it would surely overmatch my ever-dwindling ability.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
“Healthcare, construction, skilled trades. Those are the jobs that are most in demand in the economy right now,” Richardson said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
In skilled trades, retiring workers are driving a lot of the demand, while the aging population is driving more demand for eldercare.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
If everything depended on skill, Lilya Litvyak was as skilled a pilot as any man.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
