conversant

adjective

con·ver·sant kən-ˈvər-sᵊnt

also ˈkän-vər-sənt

Synonyms of conversant next

: having knowledge or experience

—used with with

conversant with modern history

is conversant with the operating system of the computer

archaic : having frequent or familiar association

archaic : concerned, occupied

Did you know?

The adjectives conversant and conversational are related; both are descendants of Latin conversari, meaning "to associate with." Conversant dates to the Middle Ages, and an early meaning of the word was simply "having familiar association." One way to associate with others is to have a conversation with them—in other words, to talk. For a short time in the 19th century conversant could mean "relating to or suggesting conversation," but for the most part that meaning stayed with conversational while conversant went in a different direction. Today, conversant is sometimes used, especially in the United States, with the meaning "able to talk in a foreign language," as in "she is conversant in several languages," but it is more often associated with knowledge or familiarity, as in "conversant with the issues."

Examples of conversant in a Sentence

She's conversant in several languages. a world traveler who is highly conversant with the customs of foreign cultures

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Consider the time any professional will have to invest to become conversant with the CTA (and many more scores of hours to become proficient). —

Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024 On the software front, Google announced two important directions for Gemini, its generative AI assistant — a more conversant voice mode dubbed Gemini Live, along with a pair of new ways that Gemini can interact with more of one's personal data. —

Ina Fried, Axios, 13 Aug. 2024 In addition, because virtually every global challenge—from trade to climate—has a tech aspect, all US diplomats need to be conversant in the topic. —

Eric Geller, WIRED, 2 July 2024 Now an identity of ideas depends materially upon a sameness of things or objects with which the people of the two countries are conversant. —

Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 19 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for conversant