different between competence vs potentiality

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French compétence, from Late Latin competentia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?mp?t?ns/

Noun

competence (countable and uncountable, plural competences)

1. (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
2. (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.
3. (linguistics) The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language, as opposed to its actual use in concrete situations (performance), cf. w:linguistic competence.
4. (dated) A sustainable income.
5. (countable, law, politics) the legal authority to deal with a matter.
6. (geology) The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.

Synonyms

• ability
• competency
• nous
• savoir-faire
• knack (colloq.)
• aptitude
• See also Thesaurus:skill

Antonyms

• inability
• ineptitude
• incompetence

Related terms

• compete
• competition
• competentness

Translations

References

• “competence” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

English

Etymology

potential +? -ity

Noun

potentiality (countable and uncountable, plural potentialities)

1. The quality of being, or having potential.
2. An inherent capacity for growth or development.
3. An aptitude amenable to development; capability.
4. (philosophy) A possibility or capacity to be something, as opposed to an actuality describing what something actually is at present.
5. (physics) Quantum potential.

Related terms

• potence
• potency
• potent
• potentate
• potential

Further reading

• potentiality in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• potentiality in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.