adjective
well versed
wel VURST
Well versed (adjective) means having a thorough knowledge of a subject or a solid grasp of a skill through study or experience. Example: “She is well versed in employment law.”
adjective
1
Having a thorough knowledge of a subject or a solid grasp of a skill through study or experience.
"She is well versed in employment law."
"You will need someone well versed in the local planning rules."
How to use well versed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKnowing a subject really well.
When to use it
Slightly formal and complimentary. It nearly always takes "in": well versed in something, not well versed on or about it. Hyphenated before a noun (a well-versed negotiator), open after the verb (he is well versed).
Memory tip
Nothing to do with poetry — versed here comes from the sense of having gone over something repeatedly, not from verse.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
well versed in
well versed in the law
well-versed practitioner
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She is _____ in employment law.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for well versed
See all rhymes for well versed →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between well versed and well read?
Well read means having read widely, especially literature, and suggests general cultivation. Well versed means having deep working knowledge of one particular field, however it was acquired — often from doing the job rather than reading about it.
Is it well versed in or well versed on?
In. "Well versed in contract law" is standard; "well versed on" is a common error and reads as wrong to most editors.
Do you hyphenate well versed?
Hyphenate it when it comes before the noun it describes, as in "a well-versed adviser". Leave it open after a verb: "the adviser is well versed in tax".
What is the meaning of well versed?
"well versed" (adjective) means having a thorough knowledge of a subject or a solid grasp of a skill through study or experience.
