# competent

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkɒmpətənt/ · frequency rank #8,018

## Definitions
1. Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
2. Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.
3. Adequate for the purpose.
4. Functionally in order; functioning adequately.
5. Permeable to foreign DNA.
6. Resistant to deformation or flow.

## Etymology
From Middle English competent, conpetent, from Old French competent (modern French compétent), from Latin competens, competentem, present participle of competō (“coincide, be equal to, be capable of”). Compare Dutch competent (“competent”), German kompetent (“competent”), Danish kompetent (“competent”).

## Easily confused with
- **competes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competent-vs-competes)
- **component** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competent-vs-component)
- **competing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competent-vs-competing)
- **complement** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competent-vs-complement)
- **competently** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competent-vs-competently)
- **compete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compete-vs-competent)
- **competed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competed-vs-competent)
- **competence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competence-vs-competent)
- **competency** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competency-vs-competent)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ccompetent`, `cmopetent`, `comeptent`, `commpetent`, `compeetnt`, `competennt`, `competentt`, `competetn`, `competnet`, `compettent`, `comppetent`, `compteent`, `copmetent`, `ocmpetent`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/competent