Definition of proficiencynext
1
as in mastery
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something surprised by his proficiency at the game after only the briefest explanation of the rules

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2
as in skills
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something acquired proficiency at golf through long hours of practice

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of proficiency The fatal collision shocked South Florida’s Haitian community and quickly entered the national debate over immigration and commercial truck driver licenses because of Singh’s undocumented status and questions about his English proficiency. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 Industries exporting to China will need workers with quality control capabilities, logistics coordination experience and, increasingly, Mandarin proficiency. Alex Daruty, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Nickens was awarded the State Proficiency title in the Agriculture Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Placement proficiency category after advancing as the first-place winner in both the San Diego Section and Southern Region levels. Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026 On Saturday, standout moments included Kaitlin Butts delivering one of the most memorable acts of the day with her Chevy Riverfront Stage set, merging humor, charm and country music proficiency across her portfolio of fan-favorite tracks. Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for proficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficiency
Noun
  • For these participants, competition with the humanoid robot created a fun challenge, clear objectives, and a rewarding sense of mastery that enhanced the overall gaming experience.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
  • Seasons 1 and 2 of the AMC show have a mastery of an elevated, almost operatic tone.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • These healthy children were an argument for a midwife’s skills.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
  • ZipRecruiter’s Invite to Apply feature enables employers to contact prospects whose skills match an open role, including passive candidates who may not be actively searching for a new job.
    Audrey Payne, CNBC, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Sports features prominently across day one, with JioStar sports and live experiences CEO Ishan Chatterjee examining sport as a platform for fandom, AI and commerce, followed by ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta on cricket’s global expansion and La Liga president Javier Tebas on fan engagement and enforcement.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 June 2026
  • Siebel Newsom has said their experiences of bullying and remote schooling during the pandemic informed her views on restricting kids’ access to social media and the impacts of artificial intelligence on children’s mental health.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Funded by the National Science Foundation, our multidisciplinary team blended our expertise in causal inference, sustainability and cybersecurity, to work on the tangled question of what people do with their consumer electronics when they’re done using them.
    Eric Williams, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
  • Blending live action and animation, the digital shorts pair Pratt’s curiosity and humor with Goodwin’s historical expertise and fact-checking to highlight America’s founding ideals.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Ersson is a technically sound goalie with a high hockey IQ.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • The Hurricanes’ coaching staff also values the safety’s football IQ, a UM source said.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Starter Eric Lauer battles erratic fastball command and early damage yet completes six innings, while the Rays’ Nick Martinez matches him before a bullpen misstep to Rojas decides a tight opener.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
  • Siobhan/Grant’s song titles can only use single-syllable words, and Lily/Raph’s song titles have to be commands.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Proficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficiency. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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