proficiency
pruh-FISH-uhn-see
/prəˈfɪʃnsi/
A high degree of competence, skill, or expertise.
Measures overall skill mastery across multiple sub-domains, beyond mere speed.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'proficientia', from 'proficere' meaning 'to make progress, advance, or accomplish'. Proficiency is the result of forward progress in a discipline.
Word relationships
- competence: Competence means adequate skill; proficiency implies an advanced, highly polished standard.
- expertise: Expertise emphasizes deep specialized knowledge; proficiency emphasizes practical skill execution.
- incompetence: Inability to perform tasks effectively.
Commonly confused with
- efficiency: Efficiency is doing work with minimum wasted effort; proficiency is doing work with high skill.
Word family
- proficient (adjective): Competent or skilled.
- proficiently (adverb): Skilfully and efficiently.
Collocations
- language proficiency
- demonstrate proficiency
- proficiency level
- technical proficiency
Example sentences
- "Applicants must demonstrate high proficiency in written English to qualify for admission." Academic Requirements
Memory hook
PROficiency is when you become a PRO at doing something. PRO progress leads to proficiency.
When not to use
Do not use for temporary beginner states or initial attempts at a task.
Fun facts
- In Latin, 'proficiens' referred specifically to a student making strong forward progress in philosophy.
Related words
Also appears in
- Business → Professional Development
- Business → Performance Evaluation
- Education & Pedagogy → Assessment, Rubrics & Evaluation
- Education & Pedagogy → Standardized Testing & Exams
- Education & Pedagogy → Vocational & Technical Training
- Education & Pedagogy → Bilingual & Immersion Education
- Student Life & Schooling → Grades & Report Cards
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