fluent

[floo-uhnt]

adjective

1. spoken or written with ease.

   fluent French.

2. able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily.

   a fluent speaker;

   fluent in six languages.

3. easy; graceful.

   fluent motion;

   fluent curves.

4. flowing, as a stream.

5. capable of flowing; fluid, as liquids or gases.

6. easily changed or adapted; pliant.

fluent

/ ˈfluːənt /

adjective

1. able to speak or write a specified foreign language with facility

2. spoken or written with facility

   his French is fluent

3. easy and graceful in motion or shape

4. flowing or able to flow freely

Other Word Forms

• fluently adverb
• fluency noun
• fluentness noun
• nonfluency noun
• nonfluent adjective
• nonfluentness noun
• overfluency noun
• overfluent adjective
• overfluentness noun
• transfluent adjective
• unfluent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluent¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin fluent- (stem of fluēns ) “flowing,” present participle of fluere; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluent¹

C16: from Latin: flowing, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

Fluent, glib, voluble may refer to a flow of words. Fluent suggests the easy and ready flow of an accomplished speaker and is usually a term of commendation: a fluent and interesting speech. Glib implies an excessive fluency divorced from sincerity or profundity; it often suggests talking smoothly and hurriedly to cover up or deceive, not giving the hearer a chance to stop and think; it may also imply a plausible, prepared, and well-rehearsed lie: He had a glib answer for everything. Voluble implies the overcopious and often rapid flow of words characteristic of a person who loves to talk: She overwhelmed him with her voluble answer. See also eloquent.

Example Sentences

She came to television already fluent in the rhythms of instruction — the patience, the humor, the knack for making technique feel accessible.

From Salon

I don’t speak Spanish, but I grew up in two households that were fully fluent in Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times

But as a millennial who worked from home during the pandemic sourdough rush, I’m fluent enough in both worlds to imagine the magic when they collide.

From Salon

A Los Feliz resident for more than 40 years, Bobb had four grandchildren, was fluent in several languages and was respected as one of the earliest champions of civilian oversight of law enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

Immediately charmed, I asked how he knew, and he said he spoke fluent Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eloquent 
• persuasive 
• talkative 
• vocal