A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge.
Most of us will know someone who is always learning new skills, or studying new fields.
2. uncountable noun
Skill is the knowledge and ability that enables you to do something well.
The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman. [+ of]
Synonyms: expertise, ability, proficiency, experience More Synonyms of skill
skill in British English
(skɪl)
noun
1.
special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training
2.
something, esp a trade or technique, requiring special training or manual proficiency
3. obsolete
understanding
Derived forms
skill-less (ˈskill-less) or skilless (ˈskilless)
adjective
Word origin
C12: from Old Norse skil distinction; related to Middle Low German schēle, Middle Dutch geschil difference
skill in American English
(skɪl)
noun
1.
great ability or proficiency; expertness that comes from training, practice, etc.
2.
a.
an art, craft, or science, esp. one involving the use of the hands or body
b.
ability in such an art, craft, or science
3. Obsolete
knowledge, understanding, or judgment
verb intransitive
4. Archaic
to matter, avail, or make a difference
SIMILAR WORDS: art
Word origin
ME, discernment, reason < ON skil, distinction, akin to skilja, to cut apart, separate < IE base *(s)kel-, to cut (> shield, shell): basic sense “ability to separate,” hence “discernment”
COBUILD Collocations
skill
considerable skill
essential skill
literacy skill
necessary skill
practical skill
relevant skill
specialist skill
technical skill
transferable skill
valuable skill
Examples of 'skill' in a sentence
skill
This is particularly important for people who are putting knowledge and skill to work.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING IN TURBULENT TIMES (1980)
Your task is to work on your skills and ensure your partner feels part of your success.
The Sun (2013)
They have the personal skills as well as the intellectual ability to be successful.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
People want to use their time and skills to put something back.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The skill of the craftsman who made it defies description.
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
We learnt acting skills and put on a play.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Your ability to learn new skills is impressive and makes work more rewarding.
The Sun (2016)
Your new love dresses to get noticed and has sports skills.
The Sun (2016)
You have a special skill for solving mysteries and knowing who deserves your trust.
The Sun (2013)
They changed their coaching to emphasise technical ability and skill.
The Sun (2014)
The campaign is gaining momentum with new initiatives in both vocational and skills training coming from government.
Thompson, Sir Peter Sharing the Success - the story of NFC (1990)
The individual contributes his particular skill and knowledge.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
You master life and work skills the same way.
Christianity Today (2000)
It takes a lot of experience as well as skill.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Managing and leading people is very much a skill and something you learn over time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The skills he has learnt on the beat have helped him out on the pitch.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You learn new skills fast and a task that seemed difficult is now easy.
The Sun (2008)
Sports stars and the skills learnt through sport help to build life skills in young people.
The Sun (2015)
You could also discover a special skill for talking to an audience.
The Sun (2010)
It is a particularly effective method of interpersonal or social skills training.
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
No one should be precious about their knowledge or skills.
Langan, Mary (ed) Taking Child Abuse Seriously: Contemporary issues in child protection theory andpractice (1990)
It was time to see if the old skills still worked.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In this situation you will have to use verbal skills as well.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
Your ability to learn skills hits a new high and your quick thinking and calmness helps you pass any test or audition.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
skill
British English: skill /skɪl/ NOUN
A skill is a type of activity or work which requires special training or knowledge.
We focus on the basic skills of reading and arithmetic.
American English: skill
Arabic: مَهَارَة
Brazilian Portuguese: habilidade
Chinese: 技能
Croatian: vještina
Czech: zručnost
Danish: evne
Dutch: bekwaamheid
European Spanish: habilidad
Finnish: taito
French: compétence
German: Fähigkeit
Greek: επιδεξιότητα
Italian: abilità
Japanese: 熟練
Korean: 수완
Norwegian: ferdighet
Polish: umiejętność
European Portuguese: competência
Romanian: abilitate
Russian: умение
Latin American Spanish: habilidad
Swedish: skicklighet
Thai: ความเชี่ยวชาญ
Turkish: beceri
Ukrainian: вміння
Vietnamese: kỹ năng
All related terms of 'skill'
skill set
A set of things is a number of things that belong together or that are thought of as a group.
essential skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
literacy skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
necessary skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge.
practical skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge.
relevant skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge.
technical skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
valuable skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
considerable skill
Skill is the knowledge and ability that enables you to do something well.
game of skill
a game in which the outcome is determined by skill rather than by chance , as chess
specialist skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
transferable skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
Chinese translation of 'skill'
skill
(skɪl)
n
(u) (= ability) 技巧 (jìqiǎo)
(c) (acquired) 技能 (jìnéng) (项, xiàng)
(noun)
Definition
special ability or expertise enabling one to perform an activity very well
The cut of a diamond depends on the skill of its craftsman.
Synonyms
expertise
the lack of management expertise within the company
ability
Her drama teacher spotted her ability.
proficiency
Evidence of basic proficiency in English is required.
experience
art
the art of romance
technique
He went abroad to improve his tennis technique.
facility
They shared a facility for languages.
talent
Both her children have a talent for music.
intelligence
craft
Lilyanne learned her craft of cooking from her grandmother.
competence
I regard her as a woman of integrity and high professional competence.
readiness
the warmth of his personality and the readiness of his wit
accomplishment
She can now add basketball to her list of accomplishments.
knack
He's got the knack of getting people to listen.
ingenuity
This task is difficult and may require some ingenuity.
finesse
aptitude
He discovered an aptitude for working in accounts.
dexterity
He showed great dexterity on the guitar.
cleverness
The artist demonstrates a cleverness with colours and textures.
quickness
adroitness
He governed with an adroitness that earned him the nickname `old fox'.
expertness
handiness
skilfulness
Opposites
inability
,
incompetence
,
ineptitude
,
inexperience
,
awkwardness
,
brute force
,
clumsiness
,
gaucheness
,
cack-handedness
,
lack of finesse
,
maladroitness
,
ham-fistedness
,
unhandiness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ability
Definition
great skill or competence
Her drama teacher spotted her ability.
Synonyms
skill,
talent,
know-how (informal),
gift,
expertise,
faculty,
flair,
competence,
energy,
accomplishment,
knack,
aptitude,
proficiency,
dexterity,
cleverness,
potentiality,
adroitness,
adeptness,
expertness,
force,
craft,
endowment
in the sense of accomplishment
Definition
personal abilities or skills
She can now add basketball to her list of accomplishments.
Synonyms
talent,
art,
ability,
skill,
gift,
achievement,
craft,
faculty,
capability,
forte,
attainment,
proficiency
in the sense of adroitness
He governed with an adroitness that earned him the nickname `old fox'.
Synonyms
skill,
ability,
craft,
expertise,
cunning,
mastery,
knack,
ingenuity,
proficiency,
dexterity,
cleverness,
deftness,
nimbleness,
aptness,
artfulness,
adeptness,
quick-wittedness,
ingeniousness,
masterfulness,
ableness,
skilfulness,
address
Synonyms of 'skill'
skill
Explore 'skill' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aptitude
Definition
natural tendency or ability
He discovered an aptitude for working in accounts.
Synonyms
gift,
ability,
talent,
capacity,
intelligence,
leaning,
bent,
tendency,
faculty,
capability,
flair,
inclination,
disposition,
knack,
propensity,
proficiency,
predilection,
cleverness,
proclivity (formal),
quickness,
giftedness,
proneness,
aptness
in the sense of art
Definition
skill
the art of romance
Synonyms
skill,
knowledge,
method,
facility,
craft,
profession,
expertise,
competence,
accomplishment,
mastery,
knack,
ingenuity,
finesse,
aptitude,
artistry,
artifice (archaic),
virtuosity,
dexterity,
cleverness,
adroitness
in the sense of cleverness
The artist demonstrates a cleverness with colours and textures.
Synonyms
dexterity,
ability,
talent,
gift,
flair,
ingenuity,
adroitness
in the sense of competence
Definition
the state of being legally competent or qualified
I regard her as a woman of integrity and high professional competence.
Synonyms
ability,
skill,
talent,
capacity,
expertise,
proficiency,
competency,
capability
in the sense of craft
Definition
skill or ability
Lilyanne learned her craft of cooking from her grandmother.
Synonyms
skill,
art,
ability,
technique,
know-how (informal),
expertise,
knack,
aptitude,
artistry,
dexterity,
workmanship,
expertness
in the sense of dexterity
Definition
skill in using one's hands
He showed great dexterity on the guitar.
Synonyms
skill,
expertise,
mastery,
touch,
facility,
craft,
knack,
finesse,
artistry,
proficiency,
smoothness,
neatness,
deftness,
nimbleness,
adroitness,
effortlessness,
handiness
in the sense of expertness
Synonyms
skill,
knowledge,
know-how (informal),
facility,
command,
grip,
craft,
judgment,
grasp,
expertise,
mastery,
proficiency,
dexterity,
deftness,
adroitness,
aptness,
knowing inside out,
ableness,
masterliness,
skilfulness
in the sense of facility
Definition
the ability to do things easily and well
They shared a facility for languages.
Synonyms
ability,
skill,
talent,
gift,
craft,
efficiency,
knack,
fluency,
proficiency,
dexterity,
quickness,
adroitness,
expertness,
skilfulness
in the sense of ingenuity
Definition
cleverness at inventing things
This task is difficult and may require some ingenuity.
Synonyms
originality,
genius,
inventiveness,
skill,
gift,
faculty,
flair,
knack,
sharpness,
cleverness,
resourcefulness,
shrewdness,
adroitness,
ingeniousness
in the sense of knack
Definition
an ability to do something difficult with apparent ease
He's got the knack of getting people to listen.
Synonyms
skill,
art,
ability,
facility,
talent,
gift,
capacity,
trick,
bent,
craft,
genius,
expertise,
forte,
flair,
competence,
ingenuity,
propensity,
aptitude,
dexterity,
cleverness,
quickness,
adroitness,
expertness,
handiness,
skilfulness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of proficiency
Evidence of basic proficiency in English is required.
Synonyms
skill,
ability,
know-how (informal),
talent,
facility,
craft,
expertise,
competence,
accomplishment,
mastery,
knack,
aptitude,
dexterity,
expertness,
skilfulness
in the sense of readiness
the warmth of his personality and the readiness of his wit