competent
adj/ˈkɒmpətənt/
Etymology From Middle English competent, conpetent, from Old French competent (modern French compétent), from Latin competens, competentem, present participle of competō (“coincide, be equal to, be capable of”). Compare Dutch competent (“competent”), German kompetent (“competent”), Danish kompetent (“competent”).
1
Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
- He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
- I believe in that myself because it has been explained by competent men as the convolutions of the grey matter.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:
2 more examples
- That as a competent keyless citizen he had proceeded energetically from the unknown to the known through the incertitude of the void.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:
- The purpose of sharing these accounts – particularly during Women’s History Month – is to show that women, like men, can grow from bumbling neophytes to competent leaders.2019 March 17, Swanee Hunt, “My career: From bumbling neophyte to pioneering diplomat”, in CNN, archived from the original on 16 May 2024:
2
Law Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.
- For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.
- judicial authority having competent jurisdiction
3
Adequate for the purpose.
- For if they [birds] had been Viviparous, the burthen of their womb, if they had brought forth any competent number at a time, had been ſo big and heavy, that their wings would have failed them, and ſo every body would have had the wit to catch the Old one.1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 67
4
Biology, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences Of an organ Functionally in order; functioning adequately.
Tissue; or system; tissue; or system
- a competent sphincter; a competent cervix; a competent immune system
5
Biology, Natural sciences Of a cell wall Permeable to foreign DNA.
- Antonyms
- incompetent
- Derived terms
- angiocompetent, chemocompetent, competently, dyscompetent, electrocompetent, fibrocompetent, hypercompetent, immunocompetent, incompetent, melanocompetent, multicompetent, neurocompetent, noncompetent, non-incompetent, omnicompetent, osmocompetent, osteocompetent, precompetent, retrocompetent, rhizocompetent, supercompetent, thermocompetent, ultracompetent
- Related terms
- bicompetent, compete, competence, competentness, competition, tricompetent