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Competence vs Capable - What's the difference?

competence | capable |

As a noun competence

is skill.

As an adjective capable is

able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.

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

    *

    capable

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
    • She is capable and efficient.
    He does not need help; he is capable of eating on his own.
    As everyone knew, he was capable of violence when roused.
    That fact is not capable of proof.
  • (obsolete) Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in. Construed with of'', ''for or an infinitive.
  • * 1775 Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland'' (''Works 10.479):
    • He has begun a road capable of a wheel-carriage.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * incapable

    Derived terms

    * capability noun

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----