competence
gb/kˈɑmpətɪns/ us/kˈɑmpətɪns/
B2
Anglais
~ 5300
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B2
entity
1
ability to do something well
The ability and skill to do something well enough to get good results.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone]'s competence in [activity]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse "competence" with "competition" because they look similar. "Competence" means ability or skill, while "competition" means a contest between people. Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition; in most cases, say "competence in" or "competence at" (e.g., "competence in English", "competence at driving").
Synonymes
ability (More general and common; does not always imply tested or proven skill, while competence suggests effective performance.)
|
skill (Focuses more on practical know‑how; competence can include knowledge, judgment, and responsibility as well as skill.)
|
proficiency (Often suggests a high degree of competence, especially in languages or technical areas.)
Antonymes
incompetence (Direct opposite; a clear lack of necessary ability or skill to do something properly.)
|
ineptitude (Stresses clumsiness or very poor performance, often sounding more critical or negative than incompetence.)
Collocations
professional competence
|demonstrate competence
|high level of competence
|technical competence
|competence in [a field]
|core competence
Thèmes
work
|education
|skills
|personal_development
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Her competence in project management impressed the entire team.
- The company questioned his competence after several serious mistakes.
- We need to assess the students' competence in written English before placing them in a class.
- The surgeon's high level of competence made the patients feel safe.
- Building digital competence is essential in many modern jobs.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She showed great competence in her new job.
- The test measures your competence in English.
- His competence as a driver is very good.
- They want to improve their computer competence.
- The manager was happy with the team's competence.
Nom
formal
C1
entity
2
required skills for a role
The list of skills and knowledge that a person should have to do a certain job or task.
Schéma d’usage :
the competences required for [job/task]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may not see a difference between this sense and the general ability sense. In HR and education texts, "competences" often means official lists of required skills, not just how good someone actually is. Also, some systems prefer the spelling "competency" for this formal sense.
Synonymes
competency (Often used interchangeably in HR and education; in some systems, a "competency" is a single defined ability, while "competence" may refer to the overall standard.)
|
qualification (Focuses more on official certificates or status, while competence is about the actual abilities required.)
Antonymes
skills gap (A phrase, not a single word; describes the absence of required competences in a workforce.)
Collocations
key competences
|core competences
|define competences
|competence framework
|competence profile
|competence standards
Thèmes
work
|education
|management
|business
Exemples
- The course aims to develop key competences needed in the modern workplace.
- Communication and teamwork are listed as core competences for this position.
- The ministry has published national competence standards for primary teachers.
- We are updating our competence framework to match new industry regulations.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This training builds the competences you need for the job.
- Teamwork is an important competence in many companies.
- The school teaches digital competences to all students.
- The company checks if workers have the right competences.
Nom
formal
C1
relation
3
official power or responsibility
The official right and power to make decisions about a certain area, especially in government or law.
Schéma d’usage :
within [someone]'s / [an authority]'s competence
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes mix this sense with personal ability. In the phrase "within my competence" here, it means "within my official role or responsibility", not just "within my skill level".
Synonymes
jurisdiction (Very close in legal contexts; often refers specifically to the geographic or subject area where a court or authority has competence.)
|
remit (British English; focuses on the range of duties or responsibilities, often in organizational contexts.)
Antonymes
lack of authority (General phrase meaning the absence of the official power or right to act in a given area.)
Collocations
within someone's competence
|outside someone's competence
|the competence of the court
|jurisdiction and competence
|limited competence
|area of competence
Thèmes
law
|government
|business
|organization
|politics
Exemples
- This issue falls within the competence of the local council.
- Decisions on immigration lie outside the competence of regional governments.
- The court ruled that the matter was not within its competence.
- Financial policy is primarily the competence of the central bank.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This problem is not within my competence.
- Education policy is the competence of the national government.
- The case is outside the competence of this court.
- Hiring staff is part of the manager's competence.
Nom
technical
C2
state
4
mental capacity in law
The mental ability a person must have to understand what is happening and to make legal decisions, like going to trial or agreeing to medical treatment.
Schéma d’usage :
competence to [verb]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse everyday "competence" (general ability) with this legal meaning. In phrases like "competence to stand trial", it specifically means mental capacity, not professional skill.
Synonymes
capacity (In legal and medical contexts, often used in phrases like "mental capacity" with very similar meaning.)
Antonymes
incapacity (Legal/medical opposite, meaning the person does not have the mental ability to make decisions or take part in the process.)
Collocations
assess competence
|competence to stand trial
|competence to consent
|question someone's competence
|mental competence
Thèmes
law
|health
|psychology
Exemples
- The court ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine the defendant's competence to stand trial.
- Doctors must assess a patient's competence before accepting consent for surgery.
- His competence to manage his financial affairs was called into question.
- The judge ruled that the witness lacked the necessary competence to give evidence.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The judge asked experts to check his competence to stand trial.
- A doctor must test a patient's competence before big medical decisions.
- They discussed her competence to sign the contract.
- The court said he did not have the competence to make this decision.
Nom
technical
C2
state
5
cell’s ability to take up DNA
In biology, a special state when a cell can take in DNA from outside the cell.
Schéma d’usage :
bacterial competence for [process]
Synonymes
transformability (Specialist term in microbiology; emphasizes the ability to undergo genetic transformation.)
Antonymes
noncompetence (Specialist opposite used in some biological texts to indicate lack of ability to take up DNA.)
Collocations
bacterial competence
|induce competence
|natural competence
|competence development
|competence factor
Thèmes
science
|biology
Exemples
- Natural competence allows some bacteria to take up DNA directly from their environment.
- Calcium chloride is often used to induce competence in E. coli cells.
- The competence of the cells was verified before transformation.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Some bacteria have natural competence and can take in DNA.
- Scientists can induce competence in cells in the lab.
- Competence is important for DNA transformation in bacteria.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
competence
API
GB/kˈɑmpətɪns/
US/kˈɑmpətɪns/
Syllabes et accentuation
com - pet - ence (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: competence
- Plural: competence, competences
Famille de mots
Forms
competences
noun
Core family
competent
adjective B2
competently
adverb
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
competitiveness
noun B2
competitively
adverb
Expressions
core competence
1/kˈɔɹ kˈɑmpətɪns/
fixed phrase
technical
central organizational strength or skill
A main special skill or strength that makes a company strong and different from others.
Exemples
- Innovation is seen as the company's core competence.
- They decided to outsource activities that were not part of their core competence.
outside someone's competence
1/aʊtsˈaɪd sˈʌmwˌʌnz kˈɑmpətɪns/
fixed phrase
formal
beyond someone's ability or authority
Not part of what a person is able or officially allowed to do.
Exemples
- This legal issue is outside my competence; you should speak to a specialist.
- Foreign policy lies outside the competence of local councils.
professional competence
1/pɹəfˈɛʃənəl kˈɑmpətɪns/
fixed phrase
ability to do a job properly
The level of skill and knowledge needed to do a job in a correct and responsible way.
Exemples
- Questions were raised about the doctor's professional competence after the incident.
- The firm invests heavily in training to maintain high professional competence.
within someone's competence
1/wɪðˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz kˈɑmpətɪns/
fixed phrase
formal
inside someone's ability or authority
To be part of what a person is able or officially allowed to do.
Exemples
- Deciding on salaries is not within my competence.
- The matter is within the committee's competence and will be discussed next week.