Library / English Dictionary

COMPETENCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually

Synonyms:

competence; competency

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("competence" is a kind of...):

ability (the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "competence"):

fitness (the quality of being qualified)

linguistic competence ((linguistics) a speaker's implicit, internalized knowledge of the rules of their language (contrasted with linguistic performance))

proficiency (the quality of having great facility and competence)

Antonym:

incompetence (lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications)

Derivation:

competent (properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient)

Credits

 Context examples: 

There was no natural disinclination to be overcome, and I see no reason why a man should make a worse clergyman for knowing that he will have a competence early in life.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Reflects education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct consistent with standards established by the College.

(Fellow of American College of Surgeons, NCI Thesaurus)

A speech language pathologist who is providing services in a mentored, professional training setting prior to receiving a certificate of clinical competence.

(Clinical Fellow - Speech Language Pathologist, NCI Thesaurus)

A speech language pathologist who has received a certificate of clinical competence.

(Certificate of Clinical Competence - Speech Language Pathologist, NCI Thesaurus)

An incompatibility reaction (which may be fatal) in a subject (host) of low immunological competence (deficient lymphoid tissue) who has been the recipient of immunologically competent lymphoid tissue from a donor who lacks at least one antigen possessed by the recipient host; the reaction, or disease, is the result of action of the transplanted cells against those host tissues that possess the antigen not possessed by the donor.

(Graft Versus Host Disease, NCI Thesaurus)

He had, by that time, realised an easy competence—enough to secure the purchase of a little estate adjoining Highbury, which he had always longed for—enough to marry a woman as portionless even as Miss Taylor, and to live according to the wishes of his own friendly and social disposition.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

A person with professional knowledge and competence in the field of medical technology that involves performing, advising on, or supervising clinical laboratory testing of human specimens, fluids and tissues, establishing and monitoring quality control systems and measures; developing data which may be used in clinical setting and in support of medical research in such areas as hematology, bacteriology, mycology, virology, parasitology, immunology, serology, immunohematology, clinical chemistry, endocrinology and toxicology, and urinalysis as they relate to clinical laboratory practice.

(Medical Technologist, NCI Thesaurus)

Come, what is your competence?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

"Elinor, for shame!" said Marianne, "money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned."

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)