competence

The word “competence” means the skill and ability needed to do something well. In plain terms, being genuinely good enough at something — having the skill it takes.

“Competence” is pronounced KOM-puh-tuhns (/ˈkɑm.pə.təns/ in IPA).

Here is “competence” used in a sentence: “His competence in the kitchen impressed even the head chef.”

Words with a similar meaning to “competence” include ability, competency, nous, savoir-faire, knack and aptitude.

The opposite of “competence” — its antonyms — are inability, ineptitude and incompetence.

“Competence” is a noun.

The word “competence” comes from Latin. From Middle French compétence, from Latin competentia, related to competere, "to be fit or capable.".

“Competence” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Competence and competency are largely interchangeable and both refer to the skill and ability needed to do something well, though competency is often used in professional or human-resources contexts to describe a specific measurable skill. Competence is more commonly used as a general, uncountable quality.

Competence means having the skill and ability needed to perform a task well, while expertise implies a higher, specialized level of mastery built through extensive experience or training. A person can be competent at a job without being an expert in it.

Competence refers to actual skill and ability, whereas confidence refers to a person's belief in their own abilities, which may or may not match their real competence. Someone can be highly competent yet lack confidence, or confident without the underlying skill.