talent
nounCA, US, UK /ˈtæl.ənt/ · UK /ˈtal.ənt/
Etymology From Middle English talent, from Old English talente, borrowed from the plural of Latin talentum (“a Grecian weight; a talent of money”), from Ancient Greek τάλαντον (tálanton, “balance, a particular weight, especially of gold, sum of money, a talent”). Compare Old High German talenta (“talent”). Later figurative senses are from Old French talent (“talent, will, inclination, desire”), derived from the biblical Parable of the Talents.
A marked natural ability or skill.
- Feel awfully about Scott... I always knew he couldn't think—he never could—but he had a marvelous talent and the thing is to use it—not whine in public.1936 February 15, Ernest Hemingway, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli and Judith Baughman, The Sons of Maxwell Perkins: Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, and Their Editor (letter to Maxwell Perkins), Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press, published 2004, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 202:
- He has a real talent for drawing.
Business, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Media, Sports People of talent, viewed collectively; a talented person.
- The director searched their talent pool to fill the new opening.
- And all over Hollywood, suits are licking their chops at the prospect of more malleable actors. “She’s not going to talk back,” one top talent wrangler told me dryly.2025 October 4, Maureen Dowd, “When A.I. Came for Hollywood”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Oct 2025:
Slang One, especially a woman, from a particular place or area, judged by their attractiveness.
- Not much talent in this bar tonight—let's hit the clubs.
- I went down to the beach front, of course, for that was the first thing that all Vaalies did: to look at the sea and to check the talent on the beach.2011, Nic Venter, Wow! What a Life!, page 179:
Historical A historical unit of weight and money used in ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East, equal to about 30 to 60 kg in various times and places.
- For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew XXV:14-15:
Obsolete A desire or inclination for something.