different between competence vs capable

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French compétence, from Late Latin competentia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?mp?t?ns/

Noun

competence (countable and uncountable, plural competences)

1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
2. (countable) The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task.
3. (linguistics) The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language, as opposed to its actual use in concrete situations (performance), cf. w:linguistic competence.
4. (dated) A sustainable income.
5. (countable, law, politics) the legal authority to deal with a matter.
6. (geology) The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.

Synonyms

• ability
• competency
• nous
• savoir-faire
• knack (colloq.)
• aptitude
• See also Thesaurus:skill

Antonyms

• inability
• ineptitude
• incompetence

Related terms

• compete
• competition
• competentness

Translations

References

• “competence” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin cap?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ke?p?bl?/

Adjective

capable (comparative more capable, superlative most capable)

1. Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.

2. (obsolete) Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:skillful

Antonyms

• incapable

Derived terms

• capability (noun)

Translations

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “capable”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

Anagrams

• pacable

French

Etymology

From Latin capabilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.pabl/

Adjective

capable (plural capables)

1. able, capable

See also

• cap'

Further reading

• “capable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).