proficiency
noun
pro·fi·cien·cy
prə-ˈfi-shən(t)-sē 
1
: advancement in knowledge or skill : progress
2
: the quality or state of being proficient
Examples of proficiency in a Sentence
surprised by his proficiency at the game after only the briefest explanation of the rules
acquired proficiency at golf through long hours of practice
Recent Examples on the Web
That's despite a wide body of research showing early literacy builds cognitive skills, reading proficiency and long-term academic success.
—
Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Rika is given the museum assignment because of her rare proficiency in Latin.
—Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
English proficiency mirrors other Polish cities.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
Naumann recommends starting with the roles a company fills most frequently, and identifying the skills and proficiency levelsrequired.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proficiency
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Rika is given the museum assignment because of her rare proficiency in Latin.
—Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
English proficiency mirrors other Polish cities.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
Naumann recommends starting with the roles a company fills most frequently, and identifying the skills and proficiency levelsrequired.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proficiency
Cite this Entry
“Proficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proficiency. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proficiency
noun
pro·fi·cien·cy
prə-ˈfish-ən-sē
plural proficiencies
: the quality or state of being proficient
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
