conversant

adjective con·ver·sant \ kən-ˈvər-sᵊnt also ˈkän-vər-sənt \

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

Definition of conversant

1 archaic : having frequent or familiar association

2 archaic : concerned, occupied

3 : having knowledge or experience —used with with

conversant with modern history

is conversant with the operating system of the computer

See conversant defined for English-language learners

See conversant defined for kids

conversant was our Word of the Day on 09/10/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of conversant in a Sentence

She's conversant in several languages.
a world traveler who is highly conversant with the customs of foreign cultures

Recent Examples of conversant from the Web

Maybe someone like the Neighborhood's Jesse Rutherford is something of a reference here: a rocker conversant in hip-hop and R&B aesthetics, with a distinctive vocal style that appeals to all sides in any setting.

— august brown, latimes.com, "With folk roots and a hip-hop influence, Irish artist Dermot Kennedy is on the verge of breaking out," 25 Mar. 2018
The ideal candidate will be deeply conversant with science and technology and can independently research complex technical issues.

— ars staff, Ars Technica, "Ars Technica is hiring a senior writer," 21 Mar. 2018
Tellingly, few websites venture beyond English, a language in which perhaps only one in ten are conversant and which is preferred by the economic elite.

— The Economist, "India’s missing middle class," 11 Jan. 2018
MusicNow, Vijay Iyer: A Portrait November 13 Pianist, bandleader, and composer Vijay Iyer has become the face of a new breed of musician, conversant and comfortable in myriad styles and always curious to try new things.

— Chicago Reader, "Ten best bets for fall music," 15 Sep. 2017
Comey repeated his interpretation throughout the hearing, during which the former director was in a relatively loose, conversant mood.

— jim newell, Slate Magazine, "Republicans are resting their defense of President Trump on one word and zero context.," 8 June 2017
One of the biggest challenges was finding a priest conversant in sign language and familiar with the deaf culture.

— ken byron, courant.com, "Hartford Archdiocese Starts New Ministry For Deaf Catholics," 25 Aug. 2017
James is 25 and is conversant almost solely in the insanely labyrinthine plots of the show, which delivers some bizarre messages.

— bill goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Offbeat ‘Brigsby Bear’ is charming and disturbing," 17 Aug. 2017
How is the market: Your broker should be conversant with the market in which your building competes, the trends up or down and the prospects for the next six months.

— allen buchanan, Orange County Register, "What all commercial real estate owners want to know," 20 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conversant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The adjectives "conversant" and "conversational" are related; both are descendants of Latin conversari, meaning "to associate with." The earliest English meaning of "conversant" in the 1300s was simply "having familiar association." One way to associate with others is to have a conversation with them - in other words, to talk. For a short time in the 19th century "conversant" could mean "relating to or suggesting conversation," but for the most part that meaning stayed with "conversational" while "conversant" went in a different direction. Today, "conversant" is sometimes used, especially in the United States, with the meaning "able to talk in a foreign language," as in "she is conversant in several languages," but it is more often associated with knowledge or familiarity, as in "conversant with the issues."