noun

• (uncountable) The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role.
• (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.
• (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.
• (dated) A sustainable income.
• (countable, law, politics) the legal authority to deal with a matter.
• (geology) The degree to which a rock is resistant to deformation or flow.