fluent

adjective

flu·​ent ˈflü-ənt 

1

a

: capable of flowing : fluid

powdered, granular, or fluent materials

b

: capable of moving with ease and grace

the fluent body of a dancer

2

a

: capable of using a language easily and accurately

fluent in Spanish

a fluent writer

b

: effortlessly smooth and flowing

a fluent performance

spoke in fluent English

c

: having or showing mastery of a subject or skill

fluent in math

fluently adverb

Synonyms of fluent

• articulate
• eloquent
• vocal
• outspoken

Examples of fluent in a Sentence

a fluent speaker of Chinese

a very fluent speaker who always communicates his points well

Recent Examples on the Web

Many nontechnical business leaders—some running their function a certain way for a decade or more—aren't AI-fluent, and internal advocacy alone isn't enough. — Ankur Pal, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Only the boy’s early obsession with the keyboard—initially discouraged by his parents—pointed to his destiny as a globe-trotting concert pianist, a composer in the major classical genres, and a fluent essayist and autobiographer to boot. — Matthew Gurewitsch, Air Mail, 29 Aug. 2026

Born and raised in Paris’s Chinatown, Zouaghi’s fluent command of Mandarin led him to teach the Chinese language to students in New York City, and eventually London. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

Hannah Arendt arrived in New York in May, 1941, stateless, broke, and far from fluent in English. — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin fluent-, fluens, present participle of fluere — more at fluid

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for fluent

• confluent
• diluent
• eluent
• pursuant
• suant
• truant

Kids Definition

fluent

adjective

flu·​ent ˈflü-ənt 

1

: fluid entry 1 sense 1a

2

a

: able to speak easily and smoothly

fluent in Spanish

b

: done in a smooth easy way

fluently adverb

Etymology

from Latin fluent-, fluens, present participle of fluere "to flow" — related to fluid