competency

noun

com·​pe·​ten·​cy ˈkäm-pə-tən(t)-sē 

plural competencies

1

: competence: such as

a

: possession of sufficient knowledge or skill

Dr. Polidoro was cited for his outstanding contributions to the profession, his professional … competency … and dedication.

—Rhode Island

At length horrible doubts overtake him as to the captain's competency to navigate his ship.

—Herman Melville

b

: legal authority, ability, or admissibility

They evaluated the defendant's competency to stand trial.

2

: a specific area of competence

A "meister," or master, who works with the student at the jobsite will then be able to check off when an apprentice has achieved certain competencies.

—Lynn Olson

I have always believed businesses that concentrate on a very few core competencies will do the best.

—Bill Gates

When coming up with a list of different industries, positions, and professions to which your skills could transfer, the key is to think in terms of your core competencies.

—John A. Challenger

Synonyms

• ability
• capability
• capableness
• capacity
• competence
• faculty

Examples of competency in a Sentence

Critics have questioned the director's competency.

she's proved that she has the competency to run a major company

Recent Examples on the Web

The Clerk's Office is the only Michigan county to do a forensic audit of the election server following the 2020 elections and launched the first-ever countywide election worker training to assist local clerks and standardize election day workers' competency. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

The bureaucratic and technical competency of Harris’s campaign is one of the stronger cases for her candidacy. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024

In a rapidly changing industry, these competencies are invaluable. —Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2024

The company was spun out of Johnson & Johnson in May 2023, which by all accounts seemed like a smart move by management as the consumer health sector lacked synergies with J&J’s core competencies of pharma and medtech. —Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see competent

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

competency

noun

com·​pe·​ten·​cy ˈkäm-pət-ən-sē 

: competence

Medical Definition

competency

noun

com·​pe·​ten·​cy -ən-sē 

plural competencies

: competence

Legal Definition

competency

noun

com·​pe·​ten·​cy ˈkäm-pə-tən-sē 

1

: the quality or state of being mentally competent compare capacity, incompetence, insanity

2

: the quality or state of being legally qualified or adequate

the competency, quantum and legal effect of evidence

—State v. Scoggin, 72 S.E.2d 54 (1952)