Competent

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkÉ’mpÉ™tÉ™nt/

Origin

From Old French competent.

Full definition of competent

Adjective

1. Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
2. (legal) Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.judicial authority having competent jurisdiction
3. Adequate for the purpose
• 1662, Henry More, , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 67:"For if birds had been Viviparous, the burthen of their womb, if they had brought forth any competent number at a time, had been so big and heavy, that their wings would have failed them ..."

Related terms

• competence
• compete
• competition
• competentness