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.

Noun

(en noun)

What somebody is known for.

* {{quote-book

, year=1529 , author=John Frith , by= , title=A pistle to the Christen reader. The Revelation of Antichrist: Antithesis, citation , chapter= , isbn= , publisher=Luft [i.e. Hoochstraten] , location= , editor= , volume_plain= , page=117 , passage=And Balaam (or as the trueth of the hebrewe hath Bileam) doth signifie the people of no reputation / or the vayne people or they that are not counted for people. }}