Word
disqualify
Phoneticsdis·qual·i·fy, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪsˈkwɑɫəˌfaɪ/
UK/dɪskwˈɒlɪfˌaɪ/
Sports
Definition
v. to officially remove someone from a competition or a job because they broke the rules or did not meet the requirements.
v. to declare someone ineligible for a position or competition due to a violation of rules or failure to meet standards. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The athlete was disqualified for using banned substances.”
“The committee decided to disqualify the candidate after discovering he had lied on his application.”
“By failing to submit the necessary documentation on time, the firm was effectively disqualified from the tender process, losing the contract to a smaller competitor.”
Examples
simple
“The athlete was disqualified for using banned substances.”
contextual
“The committee decided to disqualify the candidate after discovering he had lied on his application.”
complex
“By failing to submit the necessary documentation on time, the firm was effectively disqualified from the tender process, losing the contract to a smaller competitor.”
Real-World Examples
“The cattle's owner had been disqualified from keeping animals for life after being found guilty of a number of animal welfare offences in May.” “The farmer was found guilty of a number of animal welfare offences in May and disqualified from keeping animals for life.” Etymology
From dis- + qualify.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/disqualify