Aptitude: meaning, definitions and examples

🧠
Add to dictionary

aptitude

 

[ ˈæptɪˌtud ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental ability

Aptitude refers to a natural ability or talent for a particular skill or activity. It is often used to describe someone's inherent capacity to learn or perform well in a specific area.

Synonyms

capability, gift, talent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
aptitude

Useful for describing a natural ability or skill someone has, often evident from an early stage. It's generally used in educational or professional settings.

  • She has a natural aptitude for mathematics.
  • The job requires an aptitude for problem-solving.
talent

Refers to a natural ability or skill, often used in a professional or artistic domain. It can suggest exceptional capability and is often valued highly in specific fields.

  • Her talent for painting is well recognized.
  • He has a talent for making complex ideas simple.
capability

Used to describe the potential or power someone or something has to do something. Frequently found in discussions about technology or organizational settings.

  • The new software has the capability to process data faster.
  • He showed great capability in leading the team.
gift

Indicates a natural or exceptional talent, often implying a special, almost magical quality. It is typically used in a more personal or emotional context.

  • She has a gift for playing the piano.
  • His gift for storytelling captivated everyone.

Examples of usage

  • She has an aptitude for mathematics, excelling in all her math classes.
  • His aptitude for music was evident from a young age, as he quickly picked up playing the piano.
  • Having an aptitude for languages, she easily learned to speak multiple languages fluently.
Context #2 | Noun

potential

Aptitude can also refer to the potential to develop a skill or ability in the future. It is a measure of how likely someone is to succeed in a particular field with proper training and practice.

Synonyms

capacity, potential, promise.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
aptitude

This word is often used to refer to a natural ability or skill, especially in specific areas like learning, problem-solving, or a particular job function.

  • She has a natural aptitude for mathematics.
  • His aptitude for languages is impressive.
potential

This word is used to refer to the possibility of something happening or someone achieving something in the future. It implies that the capability is there but has not yet been realized or fully developed.

  • He has the potential to become a great leader.
  • This project has a lot of potential for success.
capacity

This term is often associated with the maximum amount that something can contain or the ability to produce something, deal with something, or understand something. It can also refer to someone's mental or physical power to handle tasks or situations.

  • The room has a seating capacity of 200.
  • She showed a great capacity for compassion.
promise

This word refers to an indication or expectation that someone or something will achieve great things in the future. It suggests a positive outlook based on current indications or early performance.

  • The young athlete shows great promise.
  • This new technology holds promise for the future.

Examples of usage

  • Although she had no prior experience in coding, her aptitude for logical thinking made her a quick learner in programming.
  • His aptitude for leadership was recognized early on, and he was groomed for a management position.
  • The test results showed a high aptitude for problem-solving, indicating a strong potential for success in the field of engineering.

Translations

Translations of the word "aptitude" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aptidão

🇮🇳 योग्यता

🇩🇪 Eignung

🇮🇩 kemampuan

🇺🇦 здатність

🇵🇱 zdolność

🇯🇵 適性

🇫🇷 aptitude

🇪🇸 aptitud

🇹🇷 yetenek

🇰🇷 적성

🇸🇦 قدرة

🇨🇿 způsobilost

🇸🇰 spôsobilosť

🇨🇳 才能

🇸🇮 usposobljenost

🇮🇸 hæfileiki

🇰🇿 қабілет

🇬🇪 უნარიანობა

🇦🇿 bacarıq

🇲🇽 aptitud

Etymology

The word 'aptitude' originated from the Latin word 'aptitudo,' meaning fitness or ability. It has been used in English since the late 15th century to describe inherent or acquired talents. Over time, 'aptitude' has come to signify a natural capacity or readiness for a specific skill or field of knowledge.

See also: apt.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,008, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.