competent

adjective

com·​pe·​tent ˈkäm-pə-tənt 

1

: proper or rightly pertinent

2

: having requisite or adequate ability or qualities : fit

a competent teacher

a competent piece of work

3

: legally qualified or adequate

a competent witness

4

: having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way: such as

a

: having the capacity to initiate an immune response following exposure to an antigen

antibody production by immunologically competent B cells

b

of a bacterial cell : capable of taking up exogenous DNA (as from a plasmid) during genetic transformation

natural and artificially-produced competent cells

competently adverb

Synonyms

• able
• capable
• equal
• fit
• good
• qualified
• suitable

Choose the Right Synonym for competent

sufficient, enough, adequate, competent mean being what is necessary or desirable.

sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

competent suggests measuring up to all requirements without question or being adequately adapted to an end.

had no competent notion of what was going on

Example Sentences

… he was tolerated, if not endorsed as the competent painter he was. —Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, 2005

The crafting of fine violins has proceeded for centuries as a secret art, handed down through apprenticeships from generation to generation. It takes 8 years, at least, to train a competent craftsman, decades to hone a master. —Richard Lipkin, Science News, 3 Sept. 1994

"Resort cities're transient places," the detective argued. " … That doesn't mean the police aren't competent." —Joseph Wambaugh, The Secrets of Harry Bright, 1985

… I discovered that Lieutenant Lincoln—a much-admired man hereabouts, and, I imagine, an exceedingly competent physician—was from Worcester … —Alexander Woollcott, letter, 2 Oct. 1917

The defendant was declared competent to stand trial.

any competent mechanic should be able to fix that

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Recent Examples on the Web

Positives: White is a competent run defender with the size and strength to set the edge. —Katie Mcinerney, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Apr. 2023

In February, his attorneys sought to have the case dismissed, saying McCarrick, who lives at a residence for troubled priests in Missouri, has dementia and is not competent to stand trial. —Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2023

Now healthy, Denver has the top seed, a competent roster and one of the best players in the world. —Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2023

Overview On its own, the 2023 Chevy Equinox is a competent mainstream compact SUV. —Frankie Cruz, Car and Driver, 14 Mar. 2023

Having a team that is competent and committed could prove to be indispensable at times of crisis when your whole company needs to search together for creative solutions to exogenous challenges. —Peter Abualzolof, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023

Of course, this is the most competent scientific approach to improving prostate health, reducing prostate size, and fighting prostate diseases. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023

When a lawyer cannot provide competent representation, the lawyer must decline the case.4 1 Alaska R. Prof. Conduct 1.1(a) and 1.3. 2 Alaska R. Prof. Conduct 1.1(a). —Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Feb. 2023

Our current approach to providing citywide, culturally competent services far exceeds the limited services previously available to those in need of mental health care. —Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, suitable, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin competent-, competens, from present participle of competere — see compete

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

competent

adjective

com·​pe·​tent ˈkäm-pət-ənt 

: having the necessary ability or qualities : capable

a competent musician

competently adverb

Medical Definition

competent

adjective

com·​pe·​tent ˈkäm-pət-ənt 

: having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way

specifically : having the capacity to respond (as by producing an antibody) to an antigenic determinant

immunologically competent cells

Legal Definition

competent

adjective

com·​pe·​tent ˈkäm-pə-tənt 

1

: having or showing requisite or adequate ability or qualities

a competent lawyer

competent representation by counsel

2

a

: free from addiction or mental defect that renders one incapable of taking care of oneself or one's property

b

: capable of understanding one's position as a criminal defendant and the nature of the criminal proceedings and able to participate in one's defense compare capacity, incompetent, insanity

3

: legally qualified or adequate: as

a

: having the necessary power or authority

a judge of competent jurisdiction

—U.S. Code

b

: qualified for presentation in court : admissible as evidence or capable of giving admissible evidence

a competent witness

c

: intelligent

a competent waiver