# ineligible

/ˌɪˈnɛɫɪdʒəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ineligible
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. not qualified

adjective · CEFR B2

not allowed to have or do something because you do not meet the necessary rules or conditions.

For teachers: 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).

### 2. a disqualified person

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who is not allowed to take part in something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He is ineligible for the prize because he works for the company.
- The committee ruled that the athlete was ineligible to compete because she had not lived in the country long enough.
- While the candidate possessed the necessary experience, his previous tenure in a conflicting government role rendered him ineligible for the new oversight position under current ethics laws.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.