Definition of proficiencynext
1
as in mastery
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something surprised by his proficiency at the game after only the briefest explanation of the rules

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2
as in skills
knowledge gained by actually doing or living through something acquired proficiency at golf through long hours of practice

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of proficiency Critics insist that the move unfairly targets Hispanic and other minority groups – and that no data exists to show drivers who lack English proficiency are more dangerous. David Ovalle, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026 The court determined that the trial judge failed to inform his lawyers that some of the jurors raised questions about the English proficiency of one of the panel members and ordered a retrial. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026 It was overturned by an appeals court in February, which ruled that Heaps was denied a fair trial because the judge did not share with his attorneys a note from the court’s foreman sharing concerns about a juror's English proficiency. ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026 The income that a proficiency with needle and thread commands relative to the skills needed and the physical toll of bending over detailed work for hours likely discourages teenagers and young adults from heeding Bae’s advice, fashion industry experts said. Anne D'innocenzio, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proficiency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proficiency
Noun
  • Yet Israel has become a water superpower through its mastery of and investment in desalination, the process of converting seawater into freshwater.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Tucci rates her mastery of the language very highly.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Try this instead The prevalence of vaguebooking also speaks to the breakdown of communication skills more broadly.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Facing a crisis in critical thinking skills, some are reviving oral exams, forcing students to defend their assignments to instructors in real time.
    Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Archibald has experience in all of those roles in his 23-year career in education that includes teaching 13 years in the classroom, working 10 years in administration as an assistant athletic director and coaching for all of that time.
    Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The Honma experience quickly became a disastrous one for Rose, and while McLaren could end up being the next great golf brand, his taking another chance on a brand that has proven exactly nothing in the golf space is questionable, at best.
    Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Industrial robotics expertise, now in your backyard KEENMOW K1 is the consumer lawn care product from KEENON Robotics, a company founded in 2010.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The task force will be composed of various La Grange residents with varying degrees of expertise and experience.
    Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Lead, a heavy metal once common in products like pipes and paints, is a neurotoxin that can stunt children’s development, lower IQ scores and increase blood pressure in adults, according to the Associated Press.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Disneyland filed a building permit with the city of Anaheim in November to remodel the Edelweiss Snacks alpine chalet in the shadow of the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Disneyland Monorail, according to Theme Park IQ.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • John Gibson After a slow start, Gibson took command of the Red Wings’ net in December and became the clear starter the rest of the way.
    Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The cult status Drain Gang commands online has created an inscrutable, near-mythical air around its members.
    Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Proficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proficiency. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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