Competence: meaning, definitions and examples

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competence

[ ˈkɒmpɪt(ə)ns ]

^{Context #1}

in the workplace

The ability to do something successfully or efficiently; expertise.

Synonyms

ability, capability, proficiency, skill

Examples of usage

She has demonstrated her competence in project management.
His competence in IT was highly valued by the company.
The team's competence in problem-solving led to their success.

^{Context #2}

legal

The legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter.

Synonyms

authority, capacity, jurisdiction, power

Examples of usage

The court's competence to hear the case was questioned by the defense lawyer.
The regulatory body's competence to regulate the industry was challenged by the stakeholders.

^{Context #3}

psychology

The ability to understand and regulate one's own emotions and to understand and relate effectively to others.

Synonyms

emotional intelligence, interpersonal competence, social skills

Examples of usage

Emotional competence is crucial for building healthy relationships.
Developing social competence is an important aspect of child development.

Translations

Translations of the word "competence" in other languages:

🇵🇹 competência

🇮🇳 क्षमता

🇩🇪 Kompetenz

🇮🇩 kompetensi

🇺🇦 компетентність

🇵🇱 kompetencja

🇯🇵 能力 (のうりょく)

🇫🇷 compétence

🇪🇸 competencia

🇹🇷 yetkinlik

🇰🇷 능력 (neungnyeok)

🇸🇦 كفاءة

🇨🇿 kompetence

🇸🇰 kompetencia

🇨🇳 能力 (nénglì)

🇸🇮 kompetenca

🇮🇸 hæfni

🇰🇿 қабілет

🇬🇪 კომპეტენცია

უნარი (kompetentsia
unari)

🇦🇿 kompetensiya

🇲🇽 competencia

Word origin

The word 'competence' originated from the Latin word 'competentia', which means 'meeting the necessary requirements, sufficiency'. Its use in English dates back to the 17th century. The concept of competence has evolved over time to encompass various domains such as skills, knowledge, and authority. Today, competence is valued in professional, legal, and personal contexts as a key trait for success and effectiveness.