ineligible

American  

[in-el-i-juh-buhl] / ɪnˈɛl ɪ dʒə bəl /

adjective

1. not eligible; not permitted or suitable.

   Employees are ineligible in this contest.

   Synonyms:

   unsuitable

2. legally disqualified to hold an office.

3. legally disqualified to function as a juror, voter, witness, etc., or to become the recipient of a privilege.

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noun

1. a person who is ineligible, as a suitor or team member.

ineligible British  

/ ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. not fit or qualified

   ineligible for a grant

   ineligible to vote

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noun

1. an ineligible person

Other Word Forms

• ineligibility noun
• ineligibleness noun
• ineligibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of ineligible

First recorded in 1760–70; in- ³ + eligible

Example Sentences

The people who were ineligible were healthier, and they hadn’t been using the benefits as much, so they were cheaper for the system to cover.

From Barron's

Because Valenzuela didn’t receive five votes, he will be ineligible to be back on the Contemporary Era Committee’s ballot in 2028.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps this was identity theft, but it’s also possible brokers submitted fake Social Security numbers to enroll ineligible or phantom people in plans.

From The Wall Street Journal

The researchers compared 79-year-olds who were just young enough to be eligible for the program with those who were just a few weeks older and ineligible because they were 80.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet while players and coaches are clear to come, some World Cup fans are ineligible even for the expedited visa process.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• unavailable
• unfit
• unqualified
• unsuitable