WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
pro•fi•cien•cy
(prə fish′ən sē),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- the state of being proficient;
skill;
expertness:proficiency in music.
- Latin prōfici(ēns) proficient + -ency
- 1535–45
pro•fi•cient /prəˈfɪʃənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
pro•fi•cient•ly, adv. See -fec-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- fully skilled in any art, science, or subject; competent:a proficient swimmer.
pro•fi•cient•ly, adv. See -fec-.
pro•fi•cient
(prə fish′ənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
pro•fi′cient•ly, adv.
pro•fi′cient•ness, n.
- well-advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject;
skilled:a proficient swimmer.
n.
- an expert.
- Latin prōficient- (stem of prōficiēns) present participle of prōficere to advance, make progress, equivalent. to prō- pro-1 + -ficere, combining form of facere to make, do1. See -ent, efficient
- 1580–90
pro•fi′cient•ness, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged adept, competent, experienced, accomplished, able, finished.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged unskilled, inept.
'proficiency' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
LEP
- Queen's Guide
- Queen's Scout
- Renaissance man
- Renaissance woman
- ability
- accomplishment
- achievement test
- awkward
- bad
- comprehensive
- dan
- language arts
- mark
- merit badge
- nonproficiency
- overlearn
- perfection
- practice
- proficiency badge
- science
- semiliterate
- skill
- skillful
- stickwork
- sure-handed
- technique
- train
- training
- unskilful