competent

/ˈkɑmpədənt/

/ˈkɒmpɪtɪnt/

If you are competent, you have the necessary ability or skills to do something. If you can carry a heavy tray of food and store a table's worth of orders in your head, you are probably a competent waiter.

The opposite of competent is incompetent — an incompetent travel agent might send you to Bahrain when you requested Britain. But competent on its own can sometimes be a veiled criticism, with the implication that someone competent is just going to through the motions — you'd rather have someone inspired on the job. In legal language, competent describes someone who has the mental capacity to take part in a trial or sign a contract.

Definitions of competent

1. adjective

   properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
   “a competent typist”

   synonyms:

   capable

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

   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

   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

   antonyms:

   incompetent

   not qualified or suited for a purpose

   feckless, inept

   generally incompetent and ineffectual

   ineffective, inefficient

   lacking the ability or skill to perform effectively; inadequate

   unworkmanlike

   not characteristic of or suitable for a good workman

   inefficient

   not producing desired results; wasteful

   unqualified

   not meeting the proper standards and requirements and training

   unskilled

   not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency
2. adjective

   legally qualified or sufficient
   “a competent court”

   “competent testimony”

   antonyms:

   incompetent

   legally not qualified or sufficient
3. adjective

   adequate for the purpose
   “a competent performance”

   synonyms:

   adequate, equal

   having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task