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Competence vs Behavior - What's the difference?

competence | behavior |

In uncountable terms the difference between competence and behavior

is that competence is the quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role while behavior is the way a device or system operates.

In countable terms the difference between competence and behavior

is that competence is in law, the legal authority to deal with a matter while behavior is an instance of the way a living creature behaves.

competence

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
  • * 2005 , Lies Sercu and Ewa Bandura, Foreign Language Teachers and Intercultural Competence: An International Investigation :
    • Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence .
  • (countable) The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task.
  • * 1961 , National Council for Elementary Science (U.S.), Science Education :
    • What professional competences do science teachers need?
  • A sustainable income.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence .
  • * 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 17
    • “money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it. Beyond a competence , it can afford no real satisfaction, as far as mere self is concerned.”
  • (countable) In law, the legal authority to deal with a matter.
    • That question is out with the competence of this court and must be taken to a higher court.

    Synonyms

    * ability * competency * nous * savoir-faire * knack (colloq.) * aptitude * See also

    Antonyms

    * inability * ineptitude * incompetence

    Related terms

    * compete * competition * competentness

    References

    *

    behavior

    English

    Alternative forms

    * behaviour (everywhere except US) * (l), (l), (l), (l)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (uncountable) Human conduct relative to social norms.
  • (uncountable) The way a living creature behaves or acts generally.
  • (uncountable, informal) A state of probation about one's conduct.
    • He was on his best behavior when her family visited.
  • (countable) An instance of the way a living creature behaves.
  • (countable, uncountable, biology, psychology) Observable response produced by an organism.
  • (uncountable) The way a device or system operates.

    • Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "behavior": human, animal, physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, organizational, corporate, social, collective, parental, interpersonal, sexual, criminal, appropriate, inappropriate, correct, incorrect, right, wrong, good, bad, acceptable, unacceptable, poor, ethical, unethical, moral, immoral, responsible, irresponsible, normal, odd, deviant, abnormal, violent, abusive, aggressive, offensive, defensive, rude, stupid, undesirable, verbal, nonverbal, learned, professional, unprofessional, adaptive, compulsive, questionable, assertive, disgusting, self-destructive.

    Related terms

    (the actions of organisms) * behave * behavioral * behavioralism * behavioralist * behaviorism * behaviorist * behavioristic * behavior pattern * behavioral science

    External links

    * * English words prefixed with be-