Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

proficiency

/pɹəˈfɪʃənsi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.43 in modern English

Syllables: pro-fi-cien-cy
IPA: /pɹəˈfɪʃənsi/

23

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Ability, skill, competence.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"to attain (or to reach) proficiency"
"a test of proficiency in English"
"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."

Etymology

From proficient or its etymon, Latin prōficiēns (present participle of prōficiō), + -ency.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: prōficiēns
Suffix: ency

Usage

Inflected Forms

proficiencies (plural) proficience (alternative)

Derived Forms

haploproficiency nonproficiency superproficiency unproficiency

Phrases

language proficiency proficiency badge

Synonyms

ability command competence skill technique

Rhymes With

efficiency deficiency sufficiency inefficiency immunodeficiency

Questions

How do you pronounce proficiency?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɹəˈfɪʃənsi/.
What does proficiency mean?: Ability, skill, competence.
Where does proficiency come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce proficiency

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “proficiency”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɹəˈfɪʃənsi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “proficiency”.
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