competence

com·pe·tence

noun \ˈkäm-pə-tən(t)s\

Definition of COMPETENCE

1

: a sufficiency of means for the necessities and conveniences of life <provided his family with a comfortable competence — Rex Ingamells>

2

: the quality or state of being competent: as a : the properties of an embryonic field that enable it to respond in a characteristic manner to an organizer b : readiness of bacteria to undergo genetic transformation

3

: the knowledge that enables a person to speak and understand a language — compare performance 6

Examples of COMPETENCE

1. He trusts in the competence of his doctor.
2. <questioned his competence to finish the task without help>

First Known Use of COMPETENCE

1605

Related to COMPETENCE

Synonyms: capability, capableness, capacity, ability, competency, faculty

Antonyms: disability, inability, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, ineptness

Related Words: aptitude, aptness, endowment, equipment, facility, gift, knack, talent; address, adroitness, deftness, dexterity, hand, prowess, skill; gray matter, instinct, intelligence, ken, reason, understanding; might, potency, puissance, staying power, stuff; adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, fitness, form, influence, resourcefulness, usefulness; means, resources, wherewithal

Near Antonyms: helplessness, impotence, paralysis, powerlessness, weakness; defectiveness, deficiency, inadequacy, inadequateness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness; debilitation, disablement, impairment, incapacitation

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Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition