talent

[tal-uhnt]

noun

1. a special natural ability or aptitude.

   a talent for drawing.

   Synonyms: genius, gift, capability

2. a capacity for achievement or success; ability.

   young men of talent.

3. a talented person.

   The cast includes many of the theater's major talents.

4. a group of persons with special ability.

   an exhibition of watercolors by the local talent.

5. Movies and Television.,  professional actors collectively, especially star performers.

6. a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matthew 25:14–30.

7. any of various ancient units of weight, as a unit of Palestine and Syria equal to 3000 shekels, or a unit of Greece equal to 6000 drachmas.

8. any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal.

9. Obsolete.,  inclination or disposition.

talent

/ ˈtælənt /

noun

1. innate ability, aptitude, or faculty, esp when unspecified; above average ability

   a talent for cooking

   a child with talent

2. a person or persons possessing such ability

3. any of various ancient units of weight and money

4. informal,  members of the opposite sex collectively, esp those living in a particular place

   the local talent

5. an obsolete word for inclination

Other Word Forms

• talented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of talent¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English talente, from Latin talenta, plural of talentum, from Greek tálanton “balance, weight, monetary unit”

Word History and Origins

Origin of talent¹

Old English talente, from Latin talenta, pl of talentum sum of money, from Greek talanton unit of money or weight; in Medieval Latin the sense was extended to ability through the influence of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30)

Synonym Study

See ability.

Example Sentences

He was a mentor to many and an important organizer, but in the end one comes away feeling that those talents surpass his achievements as an artist.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Musicians strived to create music that was different and to stand out at talent contests.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said he was a "strong supporter" of the BBC and that Davie was "a supreme talent", but that the outgoing director general had "a blind spot on editorial failings" that led to his downfall.

Read more on BBC

Sanders was far from perfect, but at times he flashed the tools that once made him a highly regarded talent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And their captivating performances demonstrate the wealth of on-screen talent hidden in all corners of the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• art 
• capability 
• capacity 
• expertise 
• flair 
• genius 
• gift 
• knack 
• know-how 
• power 
• savvy 
• skill 
• thing 

When To Use

What does talent mean?

Talent is an exceptional natural ability, especially in a particular activity, such as music.Talent is often thought of as the kind of ability that comes without training—something that you’re born with. It is often contrasted with skill, which is an ability acquired and developed through practice. It can also be used to refer to people who are talented (which is the adjective form of talent).Example: She was a prodigy whose musical talent was obvious from a young age—she started playing the piano at the age of 2.