competence
UK /ˈkɒm.pə.təns/ · US /ˈkɑm.pə.təns/ noun
Forms competences
- noun (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
- noun (countable) The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task or skill.
- noun (linguistics) The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language, as opposed to its actual use in concrete situations (performance), cf. linguistic competence.
- noun (dated) A sustainable income.
- noun (countable, law, politics) the legal authority to deal with a matter. “The bill was denied royal assent because the Scottish Parliament does not have legislative competence on the bill's matter.”
- noun (geology) The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French compétence, from Late Latin competentia. Doublet of competency.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The state of being competent; fitness; ability; adequacy; power.
- noun Property or means sufficient for the necessaries and conveniences of life; sifficiency without excess.
Etymology [Cf. F. compétence, from L. competentia agreement.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “competence”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details