Competencies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collection of skills, knowledge, and abilities that are essential for effectively executing specific tasks in professional environments
2. An array of essential skills and know-how that equip individuals to excel in their respective areas of expertise
3. The combined capabilities and expertise needed to perform tasks successfully in various roles

Etymology: "Competencies" is the plural of "competency", a word that arrived in English from Late Latin "competentia", meaning fitness or suitability, and that is also a doublet of "competence". The two words split because English took one form from Latin early on and then borrowed the same Latin root again later, so they now share a source but have settled into slightly different uses. "Competence" has long covered ability and sufficiency, while "competency" has come to name the specific skills or abilities a person needs to do a job well. That narrower job-related sense is the one that dominates in modern usage, especially in workplace contexts where employers list the practical skills expected of staff. The plural "competencies" therefore refers to a set of such skills taken together, as in a list of the abilities a role requires.

Synonyms: skills, capabilities, abilities, proficiencies, expertise

Antonyms: incompetence, ineptitude