eligible

[ el-i-juh-buh l ]

/ ˈɛl ɪ dʒə bəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR eligible ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

fit or proper to be chosen; worthy of choice; desirable: to marry an eligible bachelor.

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

legally qualified to be elected or appointed to office: eligible for the presidency.

noun

a person or thing that is eligible: Among the eligibles, only a few are running for office.

Nearby words

eliade, elias, eliche, elicit, elide, eligible, eligible paper, elihu, elijah, elijah muhammad, elijah's chair

Origin of eligible

1555–65; (< Middle French) < Late Latin ēligibilis, equivalent to Latin ē- e-¹ + ligi- select + -bilis; see -ible

Related forms

el·i·gi·bil·i·ty, el·i·gi·ble·ness, nounel·i·gi·bly, adverbnon·el·i·gi·bil·i·ty, nounnon·el·i·gi·ble, adjective

non·el·i·gi·bly, adverbpre·el·i·gi·bil·i·ty, nounpre·el·i·gi·ble, adjectivepre·el·i·gi·ble·ness, nounpre·el·i·gi·bly, adverbqua·si-el·i·gi·ble, adjectivequa·si-el·i·gi·bly, adverbre·el·i·gi·bil·i·ty, nounre·el·i·gi·ble, adjectivere·el·i·gi·bly, adjectivesu·per·el·i·gi·bil·i·ty, nounsu·per·el·i·gi·ble, adjectivesu·per·el·i·gi·ble·ness, nounsu·per·el·i·gi·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for eligible

If you answered seven or more of these correctly, you are eligible for a lifetime supply of Metamucil.
The World’s Toughest Political Quiz|Jeff Greenfield|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At-home caretakers are eligible for Medicaid waivers, which allow benefits regardless of income.
Medicaid Will Give You Money for At-Home Care, but You Might Wait Years|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jones ruled for Ray and he is now back in business, eligible to sign with any NFL club.
The $44 Million Teflon Don of the NFL|Mike Barnicle|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Expect many of those who are eligible for relief under the new program to say, “Thanks but no thanks” and go on their way.
Will 5 Million Undocumented Immigrants Take Obama's Tough Love Immigration Deal?|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the election of 1860 in which Lincoln won the presidency, 80 percent of eligible voters went to the polls.
What Lincoln Could Teach Fox News|Scott Porch|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The arrangement of getting rid of Van would certainly be the most eligible and satisfactory to the public that could be adopted.
Memoirs of the Court of George IV. 1820-1830 (Vol 1)|Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
His term of office is one year, but he is eligible for re-election.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 8|Various
He was to be elected for a period of seven instead of five years, and to be eligible for re-election.
The Last Boer War|H. Rider Haggard
Simply that Miss Craven is essentially a womanly woman, and, as such, not eligible for membership.
The Philanderer|George Bernard Shaw
In Norway, since 1889, in towns women with children may vote for school inspectors and be eligible to the school boards.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV|Various

British Dictionary definitions for eligible

eligible

/ (ˈɛlɪdʒəbəl) /

adjective

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

desirable and worthy of being chosen, esp as a spousean eligible young man

Derived Forms

eligibility, nouneligibly, adverb

Word Origin for eligible

C15: from Late Latin ēligibilis able to be chosen, from ēligere to elect

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012