eligible

American  

[el-i-juh-buhl] / ˈɛl ɪ dʒə bəl /

adjective

1. fit or proper to be chosen; worthy of choice; desirable.

   to marry an eligible bachelor.

   Synonyms:

   suitable, fitting

   Antonyms:

   unacceptable, unsuitable, ineligible

2. meeting the stipulated requirements, as to participate, compete, or work; qualified.

3. legally qualified to be elected or appointed to office.

   eligible for the presidency.

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noun

1. a person or thing that is eligible.

   Among the eligibles, only a few are running for office.

eligible British  

/ ˈɛlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. fit, worthy, or qualified, as for an office or function

2. desirable and worthy of being chosen, esp as a spouse

   an eligible young man

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Other Word Forms

• eligibility noun
• eligibleness noun
• eligibly adverb
• noneligible adjective

Etymology

Origin of eligible

First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle French or directly from Late Latin ēligibilis, equivalent to Latin ē- “out of, from” + lig- (combining form of leg-, stem of legere “to choose, select”) + -bilis “capable of, susceptible of, tending to”; e- ¹, -ible

Example Sentences

Fully electric cars are eligible for a subsidy of at least 3,000 euros.

From Barron's

Some 3,500 people in the north of the island within that age bracket are eligible for the checks.

From BBC

Data collected over 18 months showed that about one in four eligible patients received some form of weight related care at least once during the trial.

From Science Daily

“You might earn more credits than the minimum number you need to be eligible for benefits.”

From MarketWatch

Fugitives who surrender before February 15 and "truthfully confess their crimes" could be eligible for "lighter or reduced sentences", the ministry said.

From Barron's

Related Words

• acceptable
• likely
• qualified
• suitable