COMPETENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does competent mean? 

• COMPETENT (adjective)
  The adjective COMPETENT has 3 senses:

1. properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

2. adequate, but not outstanding or exceptional

3. legally qualified or sufficient

  Familiarity information: COMPETENT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMPETENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

Context example:

a competent typist

Similar:

able; capable (have the skills and qualifications to do things well)

effective; efficient (able to accomplish a purpose; functioning effectively)

workmanlike (worthy of a good workman)

Also:

capable ((usually followed by 'of') having capacity or ability)

efficient (being effective without wasting time or effort or expense)

qualified (meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office or position or task)

skilled (having or showing or requiring special skill)

Antonym:

incompetent (not qualified or suited for a purpose)

Derivation:

competence; competency (the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Adequate, but not outstanding or exceptional

Context example:

a competent performance

Similar:

adequate; equal (having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task)

Derivation:

competency (the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Legally qualified or sufficient

Context example:

competent testimony

Antonym:

incompetent (legally not qualified or sufficient)

 Context examples 

The immune system cannot discern replication-competent virus from defective virus.

(HIV seeks refuge in immune cells to avoid full elimination, SciDev.Net)

It is a recombinant live replication-competent virus based on vesicular stomatitis virus.

(Study confirms efficacy of NewLink Genetics ebola vaccine, Wikinews)

A facility equipped and competent to conduct scientific experiments, observations, tests, investigations, and/or to manufacture chemicals or medical products.

(Laboratory, NCI Thesaurus)

Any DNA sequence rearrangement in which double-stranded DNA from a donor molecule is incorporated into host DNA by the action of an integrase, yielding a single, stable, replication-competent, double-stranded DNA product.

(DNA Integration, NCI Thesaurus)

A neuroattenuated, replication-competent, recombinant herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) with potential oncolytic activity.

(G207, NCI Thesaurus)

A non-engineered, naturally oncolytic, replication-competent spontaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) type I mutant variant.

(HSV-1 HF10, NCI Thesaurus)

A replication competent, oncolytic adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) with its knob domain of fiber protein substituted by that of the serotype 3 (Ad5/3-delta24), with potential oncolytic activity.

(Conditionally Replicative Adenovirus 5/3-delta24, NCI Thesaurus)

Mrs. Fairfax turned out to be what she appeared, a placid-tempered, kind-natured woman, of competent education and average intelligence.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A replication-competent oncolytic parvovirus with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Parvovirus H-1, NCI Thesaurus)

There was a communication before her, one which she only could be competent to make—the confession of her engagement to her father; but she would have nothing to do with it at present.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)