conversant

[ kuhn-vur-suhnt, kon-ver- ]

adjective

1. familiar by use or study (usually followed by with ):

   conversant with Spanish history.

   Synonyms: proficient, well-informed, practiced, skilled, learned, versed

2. Archaic. having regular or frequent conversation; intimately associating; acquainted.

conversant

/ kənˈvɜːsənt /

adjective

1. usually postpositiveand foll bywith experienced (in), familiar (with), or acquainted (with)

Derived Forms

• conˈversantly, adverb
• conˈversance, noun

Other Words From

• con·versance con·versan·cy noun
• con·versant·ly adverb
• noncon·versance noun
• noncon·versan·cy noun
• noncon·versant adjective
• noncon·versant·ly adverb
• uncon·versant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conversant¹

1250–1300; Middle English conversa ( u ) nt < Latin conversant- (stem of conversāns ), present participle of conversārī to associate with. See converse ¹, -ant

Example Sentences

Brands, engages in a discreet laundering of Lindbergh’s views and expertise, such that a reader who is not conversant with historical details might be inclined to accept his version at face value.

From Salon

Olympians might not be experts in climatology or conversant in all the relevant political arguments surrounding weather trends, but they have a ground-level view.

From Los Angeles Times

And as the first of the new breed, totally conversant with the social media age, he knows managerial techniques of the past on their own will not work any more.

From BBC

Here are some things to know so you’ll be conversant about the practice of humans changing time:

From Seattle Times

History might have changed had the committee been conversant with Coolidge’s film.

From New York Times

Related Words

• abreast
• acquainted
• knowledgeable
• practiced
• proficient
• skilled
• versed