competence
noun
com·pe·tence
ˈkäm-pə-tən(t)s
1
: the quality or state of being competent: such as
a
: the quality or state of having sufficient knowledge, judgment, skill, or strength (as for a particular duty or in a particular respect)
No one denies her competence as a leader.
They have demonstrated their competence in their specialty or subspecialty by passing a comprehensive exam …—Rachael Migler
b
law
: legal authority, ability, or admissibility
a matter within the competence of a judge to adjudicate
c
: the knowledge that enables a person to speak and understand a language
has demonstrated competence in conversational Arabic
compare performance sense 6
d
biology
: the ability to function or develop in a particular way: such as
(1)
embryology
: the ability of embryonic cells and tissue to undergo differentiation in response to an organizer (see organizer sense 2)
(2)
microbiology
: the capability of bacterial cells to take up exogenous DNA during genetic transformation
2
: a sufficiency of means for the necessities and conveniences of life
" … money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction … "—Jane Austen
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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