Synonyms of faculty

faculty

noun

ˈfa-kəl-tē 

1

as in power

a natural ability of the mind or body

although they are well into their 80s, the mental faculties of this couple are as sharp as ever

Synonyms & Similar Words

• power
• capability
• capacity
• instinct
• function
• endowment
• aptitude
• gift
• talent
• flair
• genius
• knack

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incapacity
• inability
• incapability
• inaptitude
• ineptness
• inaptness

2

as in talent

a special and usually inborn ability

even when he was still at a young age, John Singleton Copley's artistic faculties were readily recognizable

Synonyms & Similar Words

• talent
• aptitude
• gift
• knack
• endowment
• flair
• genius
• bent
• affinity
• tendency
• eye
• ear
• mind
• head
• inclination
• capacity
• feel
• disposition
• skill
• facility
• predisposition
• impulse
• instinct
• competence
• bias
• partiality
• predilection
• propensity
• capability
• proficiency
• nose
• touch
• penchant
• power
• proclivity
• potential
• way
• turn
• specialty
• leaning
• habitude
• speciality
• hang
• specialism
• forte

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disability
• inability
• handicap
• incapacity
• weakness
• shortcoming

3

as in ability

the physical or mental power to do something

the belief that if someone loses their sight, all of their other physical faculties are heightened

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ability
• capacity
• capability
• talent
• aptitude
• competence
• competency
• capableness
• skill
• endowment
• facility
• equipment
• gift
• reason
• instinct
• resources
• understanding
• intelligence
• knack
• prowess
• address
• fitness
• dexterity
• gray matter
• aptness
• influence
• adroitness
• usefulness
• resourcefulness
• staying power
• potency
• means
• effectiveness
• adequacy
• ken
• deftness
• hand
• stuff
• might
• wherewithal
• form
• effectualness
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disability
• inability
• incapacity
• incompetency
• incompetence
• ineptitude
• paralysis
• incapability
• ineptness
• impotence
• helplessness
• powerlessness
• weakness
• deficiency
• inadequacy
• incapableness
• impairment
• ineffectiveness
• inefficacy
• uselessness
• ineffectuality
• defectiveness
• incapacitation
• disablement
• debilitation
• ineffectualness
• inadequateness
• inefficaciousness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun faculty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of faculty are aptitude, bent, genius, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

When would aptitude be a good substitute for faculty?

The words aptitude and faculty can be used in similar contexts, but aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

How are the words bent and aptitude related as synonyms of faculty?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

In what contexts can genius take the place of faculty?

While the synonyms genius and faculty are close in meaning, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

When could gift be used to replace faculty?

The meanings of gift and faculty largely overlap; however, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

When might knack be a better fit than faculty?

The words knack and faculty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

When is talent a more appropriate choice than faculty?

Although the words talent and faculty have much in common, talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of faculty

Dozens of university professors and faculty across the nation were fired or suspended in the fallout. —Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Oct. 2025

The university deems these actions unacceptable and has terminated the faculty member. —Kenya Anderson, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, 1 Oct. 2025

In that mass shooting, BSO deputies waited outside the freshman building as 17 students and faculty members were killed in the Valentine’s Day rampage. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025

But that doesn’t mean antisemitism is not a serious problem, since just a few students or faculty members with extreme views can shape an entire campus’s climate. —Graham Wright, The Conversation, 19 Sep. 2025