What does "talent" mean?
A marked natural ability or skill.
Talent
/ˈtælənt/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A marked natural ability or skill.
- Grammar: talent is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ability, ability, ability degree, ableness.
- Useful contrasts: inability, ineptitude, mediocrity.
- Usage evidence: We cannot help admiring his talent.
How to use "talent"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "talent" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "talent" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "talent" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "talent" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "talent" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ability" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "talent", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A marked natural ability or skill. countable, uncountable
"Feel awfully about Scott... I always knew he couldn't think—he never could—but he had a marvelous talent and the thing is to use it—not whine in public."
- 2 natural abilities or qualities wordnet
- 3 A unit of weight and money used in ancient times in Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East, equal to about 30 to 60 kg in various times and places. countable, historical, uncountable
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey."
- 4 a person who possesses unusual innate ability in some field or activity wordnet
- 5 A desire or inclination for something. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 People of talent, viewed collectively; a talented person. countable, uncountable
"The director searched their talent pool to fill the new opening."
- 7 The men or (especially) women of a place or area, judged by their attractiveness. countable, slang, uncountable
"Not much talent in this bar tonight—let's hit the clubs."
Proper Noun
- 1 A city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"We cannot help admiring his talent."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "talent"?
Common synonyms include: ability, ability, ability degree, ableness, accomplishment, acuity.
How do you use "talent" in a sentence?
We cannot help admiring his talent.
How do you pronounce "talent"?
Pronounced /ˈtælənt/.
Etymology
From Middle English talent, from Old English talente, borrowed from the plural of Latin talentum (“a Grecian weight; a talent of money”), from Ancient Greek τάλαντον (tálanton, “balance, a particular weight, especially of gold, sum of money, a talent”). Compare Old High German talenta (“talent”). Later figurative senses are from Old French talent (“talent, will, inclination, desire”), derived from the biblical Parable of the Talents.