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qualification

n.
US //ˌkwɑɫəfəˈkeɪʃən// UK //kwˌɒlɪfɪkˈeɪʃən// qual·i·fi·ca·tion
  1. 1 professional credential (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    an official record of showing you have finished a course or passed an exam.

    a certificate, diploma, or degree awarded upon the successful completion of a course of study or a professional examination.

    Example

    She has all the right qualifications for the teaching job.

    Example

    The candidate's academic qualifications were impressive, but the board was more interested in her five years of practical experience in the field.

    Usage

    Often used in the plural when referring to a person's educational history.
  2. 2 skill or quality (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a skill, quality, or experience that makes you suitable for a particular job or activity.

    a quality, ability, or accomplishment that makes a person suitable for a particular position or task.

    Example

    Patience is an essential qualification for anyone working with young children.

    Example

    The committee questioned whether his previous leadership roles provided the necessary qualifications to manage a budget of this magnitude.
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  1. 3 limiting condition (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a detail or condition that limits a statement and makes it less general.

    a statement or condition that modifies or limits the meaning of another statement.

    Example

    I can recommend him for the promotion, but only with one qualification.

    Example

    The CEO offered her support for the merger, though she added several important qualifications regarding the protection of current staff contracts.

    Usage

    Often follows verbs like 'add', 'make', or 'provide'.
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French qualification in the 1540s, which in turn derives from Medieval Latin quālificātiō. By surface analysis, qual(ify) + -ification.

Word family

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