What does competence mean?
Competence is the quality of having sufficient skill, knowledge, or ability to perform a task successfully and reliably. It is a noun used widely across professional, academic, and legal language: we speak of someone's competence as a surgeon, a manager, or a translator, and courts speak of their own legal competence — the authority to decide particular matters. Unlike mastery or excellence, competence implies meeting a required standard rather than surpassing it, which is why phrases such as 'basic competence' can sound unflattering even when describing solid performance. In human resources, the closely related term 'competency' denotes a specific measurable skill or behaviour, while 'competence' describes overall capability more broadly. The word derives from the Latin 'competere', meaning to come together or be suitable, entered English in the early seventeenth century, and remains one of the most important words for evaluating performance in modern workplaces and institutions.
The ability to do something successfully or efficiently; adequate skill or qualification for a task.
"Her competence as a negotiator made her invaluable to the firm."
Often used with modifiers like 'core', 'professional', or 'linguistic'; can imply merely adequate rather than outstanding performance.
Legal or official authority or scope to deal with a particular matter.
"Immigration policy falls outside the competence of local councils."
Chiefly used in law and institutional contexts, especially regarding jurisdiction.
The plural is uncommon and mainly British, appearing in education and HR documents to list distinct areas of skill; American usage prefers 'competencies'.
"The course develops communication and analytical competences alongside technical knowledge."
In Latin, 'competere' originally meant 'to come together, to strive in common' — so competence literally began life as the opposite of competing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of competence
Competence comes from the Latin verb 'competere', meaning 'to come together, agree, or be suitable', formed from 'com-' (together) and 'petere' (to seek or strive). It entered English in the early seventeenth century, initially also carrying senses relating to sufficiency or fitness. Its cognates include 'competent', which shares the same root directly, and 'competition', from the same Latin 'petere' family.
Related word forms
How competence is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in professional, educational, and legal contexts. In everyday speech it often carries a slightly damning connotation — 'basic competence' can imply that mere adequacy is all that was achieved. The plural 'competences' is chiefly British and used in training and HR contexts.
Easily confused with competence
'Competence' is the general ability to perform a task well, while 'competency' typically refers to a specific, identifiable skill or behaviour measured in professional assessment frameworks.