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   Com·pe·tent

   /ˈkämpəd(ə)nt/

   

   adjective

   • 1. having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully: "a highly competent surgeon"
   • ▪ (of a person) efficient and capable: "an infinitely competent mother of three" Similar capableableproficientadeptadroitaccomplishedskillfulskilledgiftedtalentedmasterlyvirtuosoexpertknowledgeablequalifiedtrainedefficientgoodexcellentbrilliantinformal:greatmeanwickeddeadlyniftycrackacewizardmagiccrackerjackvulgar slang:shit-hotarchaic, humorous:compleatrare:habileOpposite incompetent
   • ▪ acceptable and satisfactory, though not outstanding: "she spoke quite competent French" Similar adequateacceptablesatisfactoryreasonablefairdecentgood enoughsufficiently goodnot badall rightaveragetolerablepassablemoderatemiddlingup to scratchup to the markup to parinformal:OKokayso-sofair-to-middlingup to snuffOpposite inadequate
   • ▪ (of a court or other body) accepted as having legal authority to deal with a particular matter: "the governor was not the competent authority to deal with the matter" Similar fitfittedequippedsuitablesuitedappropriatequalifiedempoweredauthorizedOpposite unfit
   • ▪ (of a criminal defendant) able to understand the charges and to aid in defending themselves.
   • ▪ capable of performing the normal function effectively.

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘suitable, adequate’): from Latin competent-, from the verb competere in its earlier sense ‘be fit or proper’ (see compete).

   Scrabble Points: 15

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