▪ (of a court or other body) accepted as having legal authority to deal with a particular matter: "the London Stock Exchange is the competent authority under the Financial Services Act"SimilarfitfittedequippedsuitablesuitedappropriatequalifiedempoweredauthorizedOppositeunfit
▪ capable of performing the normal function effectively.
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘suitable, adequate’): from Latin competent-, from the verb competere in its earlier sense ‘be fit or proper’ (see compete).