Competent
/ˈkɒm.pɪ.tənt/noun
Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully.
Did you know?Competent comes from Latin competere, originally meaning “to come together” or “to coincide,” and its core root also gave English words tied to fitting, matching, and competing.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pet-
“to rush toward, fly at; seek or strive for”
Latin
Latin
competere
“to strive together, meet, coincide; be suitable”
Late Latin
Latin
competentem
“fitting, suitable, capable”
14th Century
English
competent
“properly fitting, adequate, sufficient”
Modern English
English
competent
“having the ability or qualification needed for a task”
Explore more surprising origins