Meaning & use
core expertise
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
The main area of skill or knowledge that a person or organization is known for.
Grammar: No plural; often followed by 'in' to name the field.
Patterns
- core expertise in something
- somebody's core expertise
- have core expertise
The company's core expertise is in renewable energy.
Her core expertise lies in data analysis.
We need to hire someone whose core expertise matches this project.
Common combinations
- core expertise in
- His core expertise in tax law made him a valuable advisor.
- develop core expertise
- The team spent years developing core expertise in cybersecurity.
- lack core expertise
- Many startups lack core expertise in marketing.
- build on core expertise
- The firm built on its core expertise to enter new markets.
Synonyms and how they differ
- specialty
- A specialty is a particular area of work you focus on, while core expertise emphasizes the central, most important skill.
- forte
- Forte is a thing you do particularly well, but it is more personal and less formal than core expertise.
- competence
- Competence means having enough skill to do something, not necessarily being a leader in that area.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: core expertise or core competency?
core expertise vs core competency
Core competency is a broader term for a fundamental ability that gives a company an advantage, while core expertise focuses on the specific skill itself.
Practice
The team's core expertise ___ software security.
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'core expertise' is uncountable and takes a singular verb, so 'is' is correct. The preposition 'in' is used to name the field, not 'on'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “core expertise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.