adjective
-
skilful or dexterous
-
quick in thought or reaction
Related Words
See dexterous.
Other Word Forms
- adroitly adverb
- adroitness noun
- unadroit adjective
Etymology
Origin of adroit
First recorded in 1645–55; from French, Old French: “elegant, skillful,” equivalent to a- a- 5 + droit, dreit “straight, just, correct,” from Latin dīrēctus; direct
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Kovrig described Chinese negotiators as "extremely adroit, calculating, and always looking for leverage".
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026
The former midfield maestro was expected to overhaul Madrid's game with a cerebral and tactically adroit approach, but his team flattered to deceive.
From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026
His focus on affordability and adroit use of social media in his campaign attracted young voters and members of immigrant communities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026
But adroit as ever, Kirk had a way of tilting the odds of those engagements in his ideological favor.
From Slate • Sep. 10, 2025
She’ll be adroit enough to lie well, I can see that.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
