aptitude

noun

ap·​ti·​tude ˈap-tə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

a

: inclination, tendency

an aptitude for hard work

b

: a natural ability : talent

an aptitude for gymnastics

2

: capacity for learning

an aptitude for languages

3

: general suitability : aptness

aptitudinal

ˌap-tə-ˈtü-də-nəl 

-ˈtyü-

adjective

aptitudinally adverb

Synonyms

• affection
• affinity
• bent
• bias
• bone
• devices
• disposition
• genius
• habitude
• impulse
• inclination
• leaning
• partiality
• penchant
• predilection
• predisposition
• proclivity
• propensity
• tendency
• turn

Choose the Right Synonym for aptitude

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something.

gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

Examples of aptitude in a Sentence

The new test is supposed to measure the aptitudes of the students.

bored teenagers with an aptitude for getting into trouble

Recent Examples on the Web

The same was true in HandBrake, as well as Geekbench, which measures overall aptitude at daily productivity tasks. —Brian Westover, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

Which is where Josephina shows her natural aptitude for the job, owning a standing target at the firing range and demonstrating a rapid-fire mastery of boots-on-the-ground directives in the noise-torture obstacle course or whatever. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

She was surprised by her own aptitude for science and soon transferred to Lancaster University as a full-time student. —David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024

Parents who used screens more had children who used screens more — and those children had lower aptitude in grammar and vocabulary, according to a survey of parents of 421 Estonian children between the ages of 2 ½ and 4 years old. —Kara Alaimo, CNN, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "tendency, likelihood," borrowed from Medieval Latin aptitūdō, going back to Late Latin, "fitness," from Latin aptus "fastened, prepared, suitable, fitting" + -i- -i- + -tūdō -tude — more at apt entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing aptitude

• aptitude test

Kids Definition

aptitude

noun

ap·​ti·​tude ˈap-tə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: ability to learn : aptness

2

: a natural ability

an aptitude for mathematics

Medical Definition

aptitude

noun

ap·​ti·​tude ˈap-tə-ˌt(y)üd 

: a natural or acquired capacity or ability

especially : a tendency, capacity, or inclination to learn or understand