Adept

/ˈædept/

adjectiveIntermediate📊CommonSkill
1 meaning2 questions

Definitions

1

Highly skilled or proficient in a particular area.

/ˈædept/

adjectivepositiveIntermediate
Skill

Very skilled or proficient at something.

He's adept at playing the piano.

💡 Simply: Very good at something.

More Examples

2

She is an adept strategist.

How It's Used

Professional

"She is an adept negotiator."

Artistic

"He is an adept painter."

From Middle English, from Old French *adept, from Latin *adeptus, past participle of *adeptare 'to obtain, acquire', from *ad- 'to' + *aptare 'to fit, adapt'.

The word has been used in English since the 16th century, primarily in the context of skilled practitioners of magic or alchemy.

Memory tip

Think of 'adapt' - an adept person adapts quickly and efficiently.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to obtain, acquire"

Base: adept
adept athighly adeptremarkably adept

Common misspellings

adeptdadepet

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written