competence

noun6

1. •
   The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.

   • Teachers are now required to teach intercultural communicative competence. — 2005
2. •
   The quality or state of being able or suitable for a particular task; the quality or state of being competent for a particular task or skill.
3. •
   the legal authority to deal with a matter.

   • The bill was denied royal assent because the Scottish Parliament does not have legislative competence on the bill's matter.
4. •
   The system of linguistic knowledge possessed by native speakers of a language, as opposed to its actual use in concrete situations (performance), cf. linguistic competence.
5. •
   The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.
6. •
   (old-fashioned) A sustainable income.

   • Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, / Lie in three words — health, peace, and competence. — 1733