competence

noun

quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role
quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; quality or state of being competent for a particular task
degree of resistance of rocks to either erosion or deformation in terms of relative mechanical strength
knowledge or experience that is necessary for the effective activity in a certain field

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒm.pə.təns/ / /ˈkɑm.pə.təns/ / /ˈkɔm.pə.təns/

Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French compétence, from Late Latin competentia. Doublet of competency.

The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
“Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence.”
The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task or skill.
The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language, as opposed to its actual use in concrete situations (performance), cf. linguistic competence.
A sustainable income.
“Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence.”
““money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.””
the legal authority to deal with a matter.
“The bill was denied royal assent because the Scottish Parliament does not have legislative competence on the bill's matter.”
“K C Wheare's definition of federalism requires that two governments be independent and co-ordinate within their own spheres, generally set out by the division of competences codified in a constitution, which is supreme.”
The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.