ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unqualified

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ənˈkwɑɫɪˌfaɪd// UK //ʌnkwˈɒlɪfˌaɪd// un·qual·i·fied

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.


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.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From un- + qualified.

Etymology 2

From unqualify + -ed.

Usage

Often used predicatively with 'for' when referring to skills, or attributively to mean 'total' or 'complete'.

© 2026 English Reference