competence

UK /ˈkɒm.pə.təns/ US /ˈkɑm.pə.təns/

noun 5

Collocations

(noun.) ability to do sth well

ADJ

great | basic | administrative, managerial, professional, social, technical | communicative, language, linguistic, reading

VERB + COMPETENCE

have

demonstrate, display, prove, show

The new manager quickly demonstrated her competence in handling the difficult project.

lack

achieve, acquire, develop, gain

After years of practice, she finally acquired the competence needed to manage her own business.

challenge, question

PREP

beyond sb's ~

The manager realized that managing the large international project was beyond her competence.

within sb's ~

Fixing a basic leaky tap is well within the competence of most homeowners.

~ as

His competence as a chef was proven when he won the cooking competition.

~ for

Sarah has the competence for managing a large team of employees.

~ in

She demonstrated real competence in managing the team during the crisis.

PHRASES

a level/standard of competence

(noun.) power to deal with sth

ADJ

formal | exclusive

VERB + COMPETENCE

have

She has the competence to manage the project, even though she's only been here for six months.

PREP

outside sb/sth's ~

Deciding on the school budget is outside the principal's competence.

within sb/sth's ~

Hiring new staff is within the manager's competence, so she doesn't need approval.

PHRASES

an area of competence

Definitions

noun

The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.

Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence.

The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task or skill.

The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language, as opposed to its actual use in concrete situations (performance), cf. linguistic competence.

A sustainable income.

Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence.

“money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.”

the legal authority to deal with a matter.

The bill was denied royal assent because the Scottish Parliament does not have legislative competence on the bill's matter.

K C Wheare's definition of federalism requires that two governments be independent and co-ordinate within their own spheres, generally set out by the division of competences codified in a constitution, which is supreme.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically

competency

Antonyms

incompetence
incompetency

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence.

Wiktionary

Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence.

Wiktionary

“money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.”

Wiktionary

Ted doesn't have the competence to teach English.

Tatoeba · #39437

Linguistic competence is inborn, not acquired.

Tatoeba · #239750

Develop your linguistic competence as much as possible.

Tatoeba · #264693

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, competence is marked as dated. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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