ENGLISH
REFERENCE

proficient

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //pɹɑˈfɪʃənt// UK //pɹəfˈɪʃənt// pro·fi·cient

adj. able to do something very well because you have practiced it a lot. It means you are skilled and experienced in a specific task or language.

adj. demonstrating a high degree of skill or competence in a specific area. Often used predicatively after 'become' or 'remain', and frequently takes the preposition 'in' or 'at'.


SIMPLE

She is proficient in three different languages.

CONTEXTUAL

After six months of intensive training, the new recruits became proficient at operating the heavy machinery safely.

COMPLEX

While many students can communicate basic needs, achieving a truly proficient level of academic writing requires years of exposure to complex sentence structures and specialized vocabulary.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin proficiens, present participle of proficere (“to go forward, advance, make progress, succeed, be profitable or useful”), from pro (“forth, forward”) + facere (“to make, do”); see fact.

Usage

Typically followed by the prepositions 'in' or 'at' to specify the area of expertise.

Pitfall

He is proficient of codingHe is proficient in codingProficient takes the prepositions 'in' or 'at', never 'of'.

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