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Achievement vs Proficiency - What's the difference?

achievement | proficiency | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between achievement and proficiency

is that achievement is the act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment while proficiency is ability, skill, competence.

achievement

English

(Webster 1913)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement .}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
  • , author= , title=Well-connected Brains , volume=100, issue=2, page=171 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Creating a complete map of the human connectome would therefore be a monumental milestone but not the end of the journey to understanding how our brains work. The achievement will transform neuroscience and serve as the starting point for asking questions we could not otherwise have answered, […].}}
  • A great or heroic deed or feat; something accomplished by valor or boldness
  • * [The exploits] of the ancient saints do far surpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes. - (Isaac Barrow)
  • * The highest achievements of the human intellect. - (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
  • (heraldry) An escutcheon or ensign armorial; now generally applied to the funeral shield commonly called hatchment.
  • (video games) An award for completing a particular task or meeting an objective in a video game.
  • proficiency

    English

    Noun

    (proficiencies)
  • Ability, skill, competence.
  • a test of proficiency in English
    to attain (or to reach) proficiency
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=April 26 , author=Tasha Robinson , title=Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits : , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=But Pirates! comes with all the usual Aardman strengths intact, particularly the sense that its characters and creators alike are too good-hearted and sweet to nitpick. The ambition is all in the craft rather than in the storytelling, but it’s hard to say no to the proficiency of that craft, or the mild good cheer behind it. }}

    Synonyms

    * ability * command * competence * skill * See also