Conversant
/kənˈvɜːrsənt/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Being conversant means you know a subject well enough to understand it and speak about it clearly. It shows you are familiar with the ideas, facts, or skills related to that topic, even if you are not an expert. People use this word to describe someone who can discuss a subject comfortably.
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See It in Action
Having a good knowledge or experience of something
- •She is conversant with the latest technology trends.
- •He became conversant in French after living in Paris for a year.
- •The manager is conversant with company policies and procedures.
Able to talk easily and confidently about a subject
- •The diplomat was conversant in several languages.
- •To be conversant in business matters is important for this job.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "conversant" like "know" (A1 word), but deeper—you don’t just know a little, you know enough to talk about it well
- ✓Picture a person joining a conversation and easily understanding what others say about a topic, like a friend who knows the game rules well
- ✓It’s the feeling when you can explain a subject to someone else without confusion or needing help
- ✓Sounds like "con-VERSE-ant" → imagine someone having a smooth conversation (verse) because they understand the topic
- ✓Think of a teacher or a guide who is comfortable answering questions because they are conversant with the subject
- ✓NOT like "familiar" (which can mean just a little knowledge), "conversant" means active and confident understanding
- ✓NOT like "expert" (very advanced knowledge), "conversant" means good, practical knowledge but not necessarily deep or professional
- ✓NOT like "ignorant" (not knowing), "conversant" is knowing enough to communicate clearly
Try Other Words
- •Knowledgeable: having a lot of information about something (Use when you want to say someone knows a lot, often more than just conversant)
- •Experienced: having done something many times before (Use when talking about practical skills or time spent doing something)
- •Aware: knowing about something exists (Use when the knowledge is very basic or general)
- •Proficient: skilled and able to do something well (Use when someone has strong ability, often in language or skills)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "con-" means "with" or "together"
- •Root "vers-" comes from Latin "vertere," meaning "to turn" or "to direct"
- •Suffix "-ant" turns the word into an adjective meaning "having the quality of"
- •The word originally relates to turning or directing attention together, like being involved in conversation
- •Over time, it developed the meaning of being knowledgeable enough to take part in discussion
- •Today, it means having enough knowledge to understand and talk about a subject comfortably
Reflect & Connect
•What subjects are you conversant in, and how did you learn enough to speak about them easily?
•Can someone be conversant in a language without being fluent? How do these ideas differ in your experience?
Fill in the blanks
1.She is conversant in computer programming because she ___ many projects and ___ the basic concepts well.
2.Being conversant with a topic helps you ___ in discussions without feeling lost or confused.
3.Unlike an expert, a conversant person might not know every detail but knows enough to ___ clearly.
4.To be conversant ___ a foreign language means you can understand and speak it comfortably.
5.He is conversant ___ the rules of the game, so he can explain them to beginners.
6.If someone is only aware of a subject, they are not yet conversant because they ___ deep understanding or ability to discuss it.
7.Employers like candidates who are conversant ___ industry trends because they can contribute ideas confidently.