adj · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈkɒmpətənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AA1 M P AH0 T IH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law
Examples
For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.
judicial authority having competent jurisdiction
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Adequate for the purpose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Functionally in order; functioning adequately.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
a competent sphincter; a competent cervix; a competent immune system
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Permeable to foreign DNA.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Resistant to deformation or flow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective
Meaning 7
properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a competent typist
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: incompetent
8
adjective
Meaning 8
legally qualified or sufficient
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a competent court
competent testimony
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: incompetent
9
adjective satellite
Meaning 9
adequate for the purpose
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a competent performance
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
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”).
Across languages
Translations
61 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
ձեռնհաս
(jeṙnhas)
— skilled
Armenian:
կոմպետենտ
(kompetent)
— skilled
Armenian:
կարող
(karoġ)
— skilled
Armenian:
իրազեկ
(irazek)
— skilled
Bengali:
ওয়াকেফ
(ōẇakeph)
— skilled
Bulgarian:
вещ
(vešt)
— skilled
Bulgarian:
способен
(sposoben)
— skilled
Bulgarian:
компетентен
(kompetenten)
— skilled
Catalan:
competent
— skilled
Chinese Mandarin:
能幹 /能干
(nénggàn)
— skilled
Chinese Mandarin:
得力
(délì)
— skilled
Chinese Mandarin:
有能力的
— skilled
Chinese Mandarin:
技艺娴熟的
— skilled
Dutch:
bekwaam
— skilled
Dutch:
bevoegd
— skilled
Dutch:
capabel
— skilled
Dutch:
competent
— skilled
Esperanto:
kompetenta
— skilled
Finnish:
pätevä
— skilled
Finnish:
osaava
— skilled
Finnish:
etevä
— skilled
Finnish:
taitava
— skilled
Galician:
competente
— skilled
German:
kompetent
— skilled
Hindi:
दक्ष
(dakṣ)
— skilled
Hindi:
कुशल
(kuśal)
— skilled
Hindi:
निपुण
(nipuṇ)
— skilled
Hindi:
पारंगत
(pāraṅgat)
— skilled
Hungarian:
kompetens
— skilled
Hungarian:
hozzáértő
— skilled
Hungarian:
jártas
— skilled
Indonesian:
kompeten
— skilled
Malay:
cekap
— skilled
Māori:
matatau
— skilled
Māori:
kaha
— skilled
Māori:
toa
— skilled
Occitan:
competent
— skilled
Persian:
شایسته
(šâyeste)
— skilled
Polish:
kompetentny
— skilled
Portuguese:
competente
— skilled
Russian:
компете́нтный
(kompeténtnyj)
— skilled
Scottish Gaelic:
comasach
— skilled
Spanish:
competente
— skilled
Ukrainian:
компете́нтний
(kompeténtnyj)
— skilled
Armenian:
իրավասու
(iravasu)
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Bulgarian:
компетентен
(kompetenten)
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Bulgarian:
мерода́вен
(merodáven)
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Catalan:
competent
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Chinese Mandarin:
有法定权力的
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Czech:
příslušný
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Dutch:
bevoegd
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Finnish:
toimivaltainen
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
French:
compétent
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
German:
zuständig
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Hungarian:
illetékes
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Hungarian:
kompetens
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Polish:
właściwy
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Portuguese:
competente
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Russian:
компете́нтный
(kompeténtnyj)
— law: having jurisdiction or authority
Finnish:
käyttökelpoinen
— adequate for a purpose
Macedonian:
кадарен
(kadaren)
— adequate for a purpose
