Word
unqualified
Phoneticsun·qual·i·fied, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈkwɑɫɪˌfaɪd/
UK/ʌnkwˈɒlɪfˌaɪd/
Definition
adj. not having the right training, skills, or papers to do a specific job. It can also mean that a feeling or statement is complete and has no doubts or limits.
adj. lacking the necessary qualifications or official requirements for a specific task; alternatively, absolute and without any limiting conditions or reservations.
Examples
“He is unqualified for the manager position.”
“The hospital cannot hire unqualified staff to perform surgery because it would be dangerous for the patients.”
“The committee gave the new proposal their unqualified support, signaling that they had no reservations about the project's long-term viability.”
Examples
simple
“He is unqualified for the manager position.”
contextual
“The hospital cannot hire unqualified staff to perform surgery because it would be dangerous for the patients.”
complex
“The committee gave the new proposal their unqualified support, signaling that they had no reservations about the project's long-term viability.”
Usage
Often used predicatively with 'for' when referring to skills, or attributively to mean 'total' or 'complete'.
Real-World Examples
“For those people, being Black is the definition of being unqualified.” Etymology
From un- + qualified.
From unqualify + -ed.
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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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