aptitude

Definitions

apt (fit) + -itude (state, condition) = "the state of being fitted." An aptitude is a built-in suitability for something — talent you were born fitted for, not skill you acquired. You have an aptitude for music, then develop it into ability.

Why It Means This

Aptitude points to innate potential rather than trained achievement — that's its key distinction from skill or ability. The same Latin word that gave us aptitude (aptitūdō, "fitness") also produced attitude, after a detour through Italian where it came to mean the body's fit "disposition" or posture. So aptitude and attitude are etymological twins: one is fitness of talent, the other fitness of the mind.

Common Collocations

• 1.aptitude test能力倾向测试
• 2.natural aptitude天生的资质
• 3.an aptitude for对……有天赋
• 4.show aptitude显示出资质

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She showed a natural aptitude for mathematics from an early age.

• 2.

  Job applicants must pass an aptitude test before the interview.

• 3.

  He has little aptitude for languages but works hard at them.