Competence vs. Capacity — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Competence and Capacity
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Compare with Definitions
Competence
The ability to do something well or efficiently.
Capacity
The ability to receive, hold, or absorb something
The storage capacity of a car's trunk.
Competence
A range of skill or ability
A task beyond his competence.
Capacity
The maximum amount that can be contained
A bin filled to capacity.
Competence
A specific ability or skill
A surprising competence in dealing with animals.
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Capacity
The power to learn or retain knowledge; mental ability.
Competence
(Law) The quality or condition of being legally qualified or fit to perform an act.
Capacity
The ability to do, make, or accomplish something; capability
A comedian's capacity for making people laugh.
Competence
(Microbiology) The ability of bacteria to be genetically transformable.
Capacity
The maximum or optimum amount that can be produced
Factories operating below capacity.
Competence
(Medicine) The ability to respond immunologically to bacteria, viruses, or other antigenic agents.
Capacity
The quality of being suitable for or receptive to specified treatment
The capacity of elastic to be stretched.
Competence
(Linguistics) The knowledge that enables one to speak and understand a language.
Capacity
The position in which one functions; role
In your capacity as sales manager.
Competence
Sufficient means for a comfortable existence.
Capacity
Legal qualification or authority
The capacity to make an arrest.
Competence
(uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
Capacity
(Electricity) Capacitance.
Competence
(countable) 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.
Capacity
Filling a space with the most it can hold
A capacity crowd at the concert.
Competence
(linguistics) 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.
Capacity
The ability to hold, receive, or absorb
Competence
(dated) A sustainable income.
Capacity
A measure of such ability; volume
Competence
The legal authority to deal with a matter.
Capacity
The maximum amount that can be held
It was hauling a capacity load.
The orchestra played to a capacity crowd.
A factory operating at less than full capacity.
Competence
(geology) The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.
Capacity
Capability; the ability to perform some task
Competence
The state of being competent; fitness; ability; adequacy; power.
The loan demonstrates, in regard to instrumental resources, the competency of this kingdom to the assertion of the common cause.
To make them act zealously is not in the competence of law.
Capacity
The maximum that can be produced.
Competence
Property or means sufficient for the necessaries and conveniences of life; sufficiency without excess.
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,Lie in three words - health, peace, and competence.
Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.
Capacity
Mental ability; the power to learn
Competence
Legal capacity or qualifications; fitness; as, the competency of a witness or of a evidence.
Capacity
A faculty; the potential for growth and development
Competence
The quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually, especially possession of the skill and knowledge required (for a task).
Capacity
A role; the position in which one functions
Competence
The quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually
Capacity
Legal authority (to make an arrest for example)
Capacity
Electrical capacitance.
Capacity
(operations) The maximum that can be produced on a machine or in a facility or group.
Its capacity rating was 150 tons per hour, but its actual maximum capacity was 200 tons per hour.
Capacity
Filling the allotted space.
There will be a capacity crowd at Busch stadium for the sixth game.
Capacity
The power of receiving or containing; extent of room or space; passive power; - used in reference to physical things.
Had our great palace the capacityTo camp this host, we all would sup together.
The capacity of the exhausted cylinder.
Capacity
The power of receiving and holding ideas, knowledge, etc.; the comprehensiveness of the mind; the receptive faculty; capability of understanding or feeling.
Capacity is now properly limited to these [the mere passive operations of the mind]; its primary signification, which is literally room for, as well as its employment, favors this; although it can not be denied that there are examples of its usage in an active sense.
Capacity
Ability; power pertaining to, or resulting from, the possession of strength, wealth, or talent; possibility of being or of doing.
The capacity of blessing the people.
A cause with such capacities endued.
Capacity
Outward condition or circumstances; occupation; profession; character; position; as, to work in the capacity of a mason or a carpenter.
Capacity
Legal or moral qualification, as of age, residence, character, etc., necessary for certain purposes, as for holding office, for marrying, for making contracts, wills, etc.; legal power or right; competency.
Capacity
Ability to perform or produce
Capacity
The susceptibility of something to a particular treatment;
The capability of a metal to be fused
Capacity
The amount that can be contained;
The gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons
Capacity
The maximum production possible;
The plant is working at 80 per cent capacity
Capacity
A specified function;
He was employed in the capacity of director
He should be retained in his present capacity at a higher salary
Capacity
(computer science) the amount of information (in bytes) that can be stored on a disk drive;
The capacity of a hard disk drive is usually expressed in megabytes
Capacity
An electrical phenomenon whereby an electric charge is stored
Capacity
The power to learn or retain knowledge; in law, the ability to understand the facts and significance of your behavior
Capacity
Tolerance for alcohol;
He had drunk beyond his capacity
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