From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcompetentcom‧pe‧tent /ˈkɒmpɪtənt $ ˈkɑːm-/ ●●○ adjective 1 GOOD AThaving enough skill or knowledge to do something to a satisfactory standard OPP incompetent A competent mechanic should be able to fix the problem.very/highly/extremely competent She’s a highly competent linguist.competent to do something I don’t feel competent to give an opinion at the moment. He is the only party leader competent enough to govern this country.2 GOOD/EXCELLENTsatisfactory but not especially good The workmen did a competent job.3 technical having normal mental abilities We believe the patient was not mentally competent. A psychiatrist said McKibben was competent to stand trial.4 [not before noun] lawSCT having the legal power to deal with something in a court of lawcompetent to do something This court is not competent to hear your case. —competently adverb
Examples from the Corpus
competent• Though the country is poor, the doctors and nurses are qualified and competent.• We believe the patient was not mentally competent.• He was happy in his work and at home and was obviously a competent and confident man.• These employees were competent and experienced.• Some were competent and some were barely recognisable, but each had its unique charm.• Most of the essays were competent but one was really outstanding.• New students are expected to be competent in mathematics.• The roofers did a competent job.• A competent mechanic should be able to fix the problem quickly.• Ben took out his pen and produced a quick but very competent sketch of the building.• Competent skiers should find no difficulty with the course.• Ramon Mitra has proved to be a competent Speaker in the House of Representatives.• That was cowardice worthy of franchise forfeiture, because the Broncos were at least a competent team.• Why this has happened I am not competent to say, but it could be a fruitful and fascinating subject for research.• Tomita is a highly competent translator.competent to do something• He is an agricultural science graduate from Oxford University and feels competent to assess evidence and act logically.• Which is whether your son was mentally competent to commit a crime on May fourth, Nineteen-seventy-seven.• Neither of them was competent to do that type of business and they made an expensive mistake.• A literate society is only as competent to face the dangers of the future as our definition of that adjective allows.• Fortunately both firms are competent to handle this.• He resigned amid questions of whether he was competent to manage the firm.• Why this has happened I am not competent to say, but it could be a fruitful and fascinating subject for research.• After psychiatric evaluations found that he was competent to stand trial, Harwood pleaded guilty July 16 to second-degree murder.• Dortch-Okara, who in August found Salvi competent to stand trial, refused to let Salvi release the statement.competent to stand trial• Salvi has been declared mentally competent to stand trial Feb. 5.• After psychiatric evaluations found that he was competent to stand trial, Harwood pleaded guilty July 16 to second-degree murder.• Dortch-Okara, who in August found Salvi competent to stand trial, refused to let Salvi release the statement.competent to do something• He is an agricultural science graduate from Oxford University and feels competent to assess evidence and act logically.• Which is whether your son was mentally competent to commit a crime on May fourth, Nineteen-seventy-seven.• Neither of them was competent to do that type of business and they made an expensive mistake.• A literate society is only as competent to face the dangers of the future as our definition of that adjective allows.• Fortunately both firms are competent to handle this.• Why this has happened I am not competent to say, but it could be a fruitful and fascinating subject for research.• After psychiatric evaluations found that he was competent to stand trial, Harwood pleaded guilty July 16 to second-degree murder.• Dortch-Okara, who in August found Salvi competent to stand trial, refused to let Salvi release the statement.From Longman Business Dictionarycompetentcom‧pe‧tent /ˈkɒmpətəntˈkɑːm-/ adjective1having enough skill, knowledge, or ability to do something to a satisfactory standardThe farm would have to be run by a competent manager.You need someone who is both competent at finance and honest.2a piece of work or equipment that is competent is satisfactory but not particularly goodThe graphics test showed the portable photocopier to be competent, but no more.3LAW having the official power to make legal decisions or deal with particular legal casesWe are determined to ensure that those individuals appear before a competent court as speedily as possible.4LAW old enough, well enough, or intelligent enough to make decisions, appear in a court of law, sign a legal document etcHe was declared competent to stand trial.Origin competent (1300-1400) Old French Latin, present participle of competere “to be suitable”; → COMPETE 