talent

talent — noun

1. a quality that a person is born with, which helps them do a certain activity — s

1.nounA2
Definition

a quality that a person is born with, which helps them do a certain activity — such as painting, singing, or solving maths problems — much better than most people, often without needing much instruction

Example

Young Darius showed a remarkable talent for drawing long before he started school.

talent + for + gerund (showing ability area)

Wei's talent in mathematics was clear to everyone in the class.

talent + in + field/subject

Common collocations
  • natural talent
  • great / remarkable / extraordinary talent
  • hidden talent
  • talent show
  • talent competition
  • develop your talent
  • showcase your talent
  • have a talent for something
  • a wealth of talent
Synonyms
  • gift

    suggests a special ability given by nature, often used for artistic or creative abilities; warmer and more personal than talent

  • aptitude

    focuses on the potential to learn or do something well; more technical and often used in educational contexts

  • ability

    a broader term that can describe learned skills as well as natural ones; does not carry the 'born-with' implication that talent does

Grammar Patterns

talent + for + noun/gerund

talent + in + field/subject

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'for' with a gerund ('talent for singing') or 'in' with a subject area ('talent in mathematics'). 'For' is more common with specific activities; 'in' is more common with academic or professional fields.

Common Mistakes

She has a talent of singing.
She has a talent for singing.
Use 'for', not 'of', after 'talent'.
He has a big talent for music.
He has great talent in music.
Use 'great' or 'remarkable', not 'big', to describe talent.

2. someone whose inborn capacity lets them perform at a very high level in a specif

2.nounB1
Definition

someone whose inborn capacity lets them perform at a very high level in a specific area, such as sports, music, or business

Example

Rodrigo is a real talent on the football field and has been scouted by several clubs.

countable: a + (adjective) + talent

The music school accepts only a few new talents each year after a competitive audition.

plural: talents

Common collocations
  • young talent
  • rising / emerging talent
  • local talent
  • rare talent
  • real talent
  • spot a talent
  • nurture a talent
Synonyms
  • genius

    implies an exceptionally high level of talent, often in a creative or intellectual field; much stronger than talent

  • prodigy

    refers specifically to a young person with extraordinary ability; narrower and more dramatic than talent

Grammar Patterns

a + (adjective) + talent + in/at + field

Usage Note

Countable and often preceded by an adjective ('a rare talent', 'an emerging talent') or a modifier ('young talent', 'local talent'). 'Talent' in this sense refers to the person themselves, not their ability.

Common Mistakes

She is a big talent in painting.
She is a great talent in painting.
Use 'great' rather than 'big' to describe a talented person.
The school found many new talent.
The school found many new talents.
When referring to individual talented people, 'talent' is countable and can be plural.

3. people with skill and ability who work for an organisation, considered as a grou

3.nounB2
Definition

people with skill and ability who work for an organisation, considered as a group

Example

The company is trying to attract top talent by offering better salaries and flexible hours.

collocation: attract / top talent

Jenna was hired by a tech firm that recruits the best talent from around the world.

collocation: recruit / best talent

Common collocations
  • top talent
  • best talent
  • local talent
  • talent pool
  • talent shortage
  • talent management
  • talent acquisition
  • attract talent
  • recruit talent
  • retain talent
  • poach talent
Synonyms
  • workforce

    a broader term that includes all workers, not only the skilled ones; more neutral and less evaluative

  • human resources

    the formal department or function; less personal and more administrative than talent

Grammar Patterns

recruit / attract / retain + talent

top / best + talent

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — 'talent' refers to a group of skilled people, not individuals. Frequently used in human-resources and management contexts. Common in compounds such as 'talent pool', 'talent management', and 'talent acquisition'.

Common Mistakes

The company hired three new talents this month.
The company hired three new employees this month.
'Talent' as a group of staff is uncountable; use 'employees' or 'staff' when counting individuals.
We need to keep our best talents from leaving.
We need to keep our best talent from leaving.
'Talent' is uncountable when referring to skilled workers as a group.

4. individuals whom others find sexually appealing — used informally in social cont

4.nounB2
Definition

individuals whom others find sexually appealing — used informally in social contexts such as bars, clubs, or parties

Example

The new club on Fifth Street is supposedly full of talent on weekend nights.

informal register: be full of talent

Sivan laughed when her friend said there was no talent at the party.

informal register: no talent (referring to attractive people)

Usage Note

Informal, slang usage that can be considered crude or objectifying. Used almost exclusively in casual conversation among younger speakers. Not appropriate in formal or professional contexts.

5. a unit of weight used in ancient times, especially by the Greeks, Romans, and Ba

5.nounC2
Definition

a unit of weight used in ancient times, especially by the Greeks, Romans, and Babylonians, varying in size but often around 25 to 35 kilograms

Example

In the Bible story, a servant received five talents of gold from his master.

Biblical reference: talents of gold

Archaeologists found an inscription recording a payment of three talents of silver.

Usage Note

Now mostly encountered in ancient texts, the Bible, or historical writing. The modern meaning of 'talent' as 'natural ability' actually derives from a metaphorical reinterpretation of this monetary sense in the Parable of the Talents.

Word family

  • talented
    adjectiveB1
  • talentless
    adjectiveC1
  • talent show
    nounA2
  • talent scout
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Talent, ability, skill, gift, aptitude, and genius all relate to what a person can do, but they differ in origin and scope. 'Ability' is the broadest term — it covers anything a person can do, whether learned or inborn ('her ability to solve problems quickly'). 'Skill' emphasises something learned through practice ('carpentry is a skill you develop over time'). 'Talent' and 'gift' both suggest a natural, inborn capacity, but 'gift' feels warmer and more personal ('she has a gift for making people feel welcome'), while 'talent' is more neutral and can be measured ('a talent for mathematics'). 'Aptitude' is the most technical — it indicates potential to learn a specific skill and is common in educational testing ('an aptitude for mechanical reasoning'). 'Genius' is the strongest term, reserved for extraordinary, rare ability ('Einstein was a genius in physics'). In short: use 'talent' for natural ability you can observe results from; use 'gift' to add warmth; use 'ability' for learned or inborn capacity; use 'aptitude' for potential; and use 'genius' for exceptional, rare brilliance.

ability ↗skill ↗gift ↗aptitudegenius ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • have a talent for something
  • a wealth of talent
  • a pool of talent
  • hide your talent under a bushel
  • talent scout / talent spotter

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'talentum', which was borrowed from Greek 'talanton' (τάλαντον), meaning 'a balance, a weight, or a sum of money'. In ancient times a talent was a heavy unit of weight (about 25–35 kg) used to measure gold and silver. The modern meaning of 'natural ability' comes from the Parable of the Talents in the Bible (Matthew 25:14–30), where servants are entrusted with bags of gold (talents) and expected to use them wisely. Over centuries, readers reinterpreted the story's moral as a metaphor for using one's God-given abilities, and 'talent' gradually shifted from a unit of money to a natural capacity or gift.