competent

What it means

1. Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.

   He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.

   3 more examples

   I believe in that myself because it has been explained by competent men as the convolutions of the grey matter.

   1922, James Joyce, Ulysses

   That as a competent keyless citizen he had proceeded energetically from the unknown to the known through the incertitude of the void.

   1922, James Joyce, Ulysses

   The purpose of sharing these accounts – particularly during Women’s History Month – is to show that women, like men, can grow from bumbling neophytes to competent leaders.

   2019 March 17, Swanee Hunt, “My career: From bumbling neophyte to pioneering diplomat”, in CNN, archived from the original on 16 May 2024

2. lawHaving jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.

   judicial authority having competent jurisdiction

   1 more example

   For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.

3. Adequate for the purpose.

   For if they [birds] had been Viviparous, the burthen of their womb, if they had brought forth any competent number at a time, had been ſo big and heavy, that their wings would have failed them, and ſo every body would have had the wit to catch the Old one.

   1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 67

In a sentence

He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.

Where it comes from

1. Latincompetens, competentem
2. Old Frenchcompetent
3. Middle Englishcompetent
4. Englishcompetent

From Middle English competent, conpetent, from Old French competent (modern French compétent), from Latin competens, competentem, present participle of competō (“coincide, be equal to, be capable of”). Compare Dutch competent (“competent”), German kompetent (“competent”), Danish kompetent (“competent”).