Word of the Day

: June 4, 2018

proficient

adjective pruh-FISH-unt

What It Means

: well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge

proficient in Context

"The audition process is intense. Rockettes must be proficient in ballet, tap, and jazz. Hundreds of women come to auditions and the line to get into Radio City Music Hall wraps around the building." — Melinda Farrell, USA Today, 1 Nov. 2017

"However, for those looking to improve their performance in virtually every field, taking the time to improve your reading efficiency and vocabulary can pay dividends down the road. In fact, proficient readers usually have better paid jobs and are 2.5 times more likely to earn $850 or more a week." — Macworld, 20 Dec. 2017

Did You Know?

If you are proficient or adept at something you are skillful—perhaps even expert. Proficient, adept, skillful, and expert are all synonyms, but subtle differences can be discerned between these terms as well. Proficient usually describes pure ability that comes from training and practice ("a proficient writer"). Adept suggests an innate ability as well as a learned skill ("an adept card player"). Skillful suggests being very able at a particular task ("a skillful surgeon"). Expert suggests having a thorough knowledge of a subject as well as being very skillful at working in it ("expert in the martial arts").