Word
ineligible
Phoneticsin·el·i·gi·ble, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪˈnɛɫɪdʒəbəɫ/
UK/ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl/
Definitions
01not qualified
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not allowed to have or do something because you do not meet the necessary rules or conditions.
adj. legally or officially disqualified from a position, right, or benefit due to failing to meet specific criteria.
“He was ineligible for the scholarship because his family earned too much money.”
“The athlete was declared ineligible to compete in the finals after failing to submit the required medical documentation by the Friday deadline.”
Usage
Commonly followed by the prepositions 'for' (before a noun) or 'to' (before an infinitive verb).
Pitfall
He is ineligible to the competition.
He is ineligible for the competition.
Use 'for' before a noun or 'to' before a verb when explaining why someone is ineligible.
Synonyms
02a disqualified person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a person who is not allowed to take part in something.
n. a person who does not meet the requirements for a specific status, benefit, or competition.
“The list of ineligibles was posted on the wall outside the office.”
“The committee spent the afternoon reviewing the applications and separating the ineligibles from those who met the primary criteria.”
Usage
Usually appears in administrative or legal contexts, often in the plural form.
Teaching tip
This noun use is much rarer than the adjective; students should focus on the adjective form first.
Real-World Examples
“Non-contributory pensions ( p ensiones no contributivas ) are for people ineligible for the normal contribution-based Spanish pension.” “But Schultz withdrew from the general election and was ineligible to advance.” Etymology
From French inéligible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/ineligible