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Added 9 October 2026

proficient

/pɹəˈfɪʃ.ənt/ adjective

Latin root: proficiens Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about proficient at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Good at something; skilled; fluent; practiced, especially in relation to a task or skill.
He was a proficient writer with an interest in human nature.

noun

An expert.

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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