Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
"The new manager proved to be a competent leader who successfully guided the team through the project launch."
In plain English: Competent means having enough skill and knowledge to do something well without needing help.
"She is a competent nurse who always takes good care of her patients."
Usage: Use competent to describe someone who possesses the necessary skills and judgment to perform a task successfully without needing supervision. It is often applied in professional contexts like job evaluations but can also refer to basic functional adequacy in everyday situations.
The word "competent" comes from the Latin competens, which originally meant to coincide or be equal to something. It entered English through Middle French and Old French, eventually taking on its modern sense of being capable enough for a specific task.