competent Hear it!

competent Definition

com·pe·tent (-tənt)

adjective

  1. well qualified; capable; fit a competent doctor
  2. sufficient; adequate a competent understanding of law
  3. permissible or properly belonging: with to
  4. Law legally qualified, authorized, or fit

Etymology: ME < OFr < L competens, prp. of competere: see compete

competent Related Forms

com′·pe·tently adverb

competent Synonyms

competent

modif.

  1. Capable

    fit, qualified, skilled; see able 1, 2.

  2. Adequate

    sufficient, satisfactory, acceptable; see enough 1, fair 2.

  3. Legally qualified

    responsible, accountable, duly constituted, sane, of sound mind, compos mentis (Latin); see also sane 1. See syn. study at able.

competent Law Definition

Possessing sufficient mental ability to understand an issue, problem, or situation; to make a reasonable decision concerning it; and to understand and appreciate the potential consequences of the decision. See also capacity, compos mentis, and insanity.
Possessing the legal authority, jurisdiction, qualification, or legally required mental ability to perform a task.
competent evidence
See evidence.
competent witness
See witness.

competent Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • technically: Any good, technically competent web design firm can set this up for you.
  • culturally: To make its own services more culturally competent, Diabetes UK has been reviewing its own practice in relation to minority ethnic groups.
  • occupationally: A: Candidates are usually assessed in their normal workplace by an Assessor who is a person recognized as occupationally competent.
  • professionally: Is it to make officers more professionally competent through the study of war?
  • mentally: Intrusive research is defined in terms of whether consent would be required of a person who is mentally competent.

Infinitive complement

  • carry: The GGF will send you a list of members in your area who have been registered as being competent to carry out glazing work.
  • supervise: If there is a member of staff competent to supervise in a proposed area, the application will be treated with full seriousness.
  • undertake: The status of NHER Site Assessor demonstrates that you are competent to undertake detailed energy assessments on existing dwellings.
  • perform: They are not intended as a substitute for medical training, and do not make you competent to perform the skill on patients.
  • handle: Lawyer: The lawyer should be careful to handle only matters he/she is competent to handle.

Modifies a noun

  • jurisdiction: To sue and be sued in all courts of competent jurisdiction.
  • authority: Every year, the competent authority draws up an in-service training plan for staff.
  • electrician: How do we find a competent electrician to do an electrical survey on a property?
  • swimmer: Diving lessons Diving lessons will take place in the diving pool; students must be competent swimmers in deep water.
  • person: For the Silver badges the observer may be any competent person.
  • practitioner: Most competent feng shui practitioners will draft a full ba zi.

Used with adjective complement

  • deem: Note: Some of the training may take place on the public highway if the trainees are deemed competent to do so.
  • feel: Did he feel competent to make this colossal study without any assistance?
  • become: Shorter pay scales, which accurately reflect the time needed to become fully competent at a job, are a positive step.
  • assess: Any member of BW's staff whose work involves using workboats or floating plant needs to be assessed as competent to do so.