ineligible

[ in-el-i-juh-buhl ]

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.

noun

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

ineligible

/ ɪnˈɛlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. often foll byfor or an infinitive not fit or qualified

   ineligible for a grant

   ineligible to vote

noun

1. an ineligible person

Derived Forms

• inˈeligibly, adverb
• inˌeligiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• in·eli·gi·bili·ty in·eli·gi·ble·ness noun
• in·eli·gi·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ineligible¹

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

Example Sentences

Dozens of Montgomery County residents who are ineligible for the vaccine under current guidelines tried to receive the vaccine Wednesday and Thursday, officials said.

From Washington Post

Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, one of the institutions that had deemed Orellana Garcia ineligible for a transplant, took a second look, asking Rogers for information and paperwork.

From Washington Post

However, Diane Auer Jones, the Education Department’s point person on higher education policy, told several higher education groups on Monday that the agency still views undocumented and international students as ineligible for aid.

From Washington Post

The inspector general’s office reached that conclusion by comparing a list of PPP loan recipients with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay list, a compilation of individuals and entities ineligible to receive federal payments.

From Fortune

Inconclusive test results, exposure to an outside party who has tested positive and contact tracing are all reasons players from around the league have been ruled ineligible to play.

From Washington Post

Today it would be considered a felony, classifying him as a “two-timer” and therefore ineligible for special release.

From The Daily Beast

When they do leave prison, these men are largely unemployable and ineligible to vote, and often end up back in the system.

From The Daily Beast

A Republican activist filed a complaint that Perez was ineligible because he had only joined the Maryland bar in 2001.

From The Daily Beast

You should already see where this is going: Existing black neighborhoods were lined as unsafe, and thus ineligible for financing.

From The Daily Beast

Any person found to use multiple Twitter usernames or multiple Twitter updates to enter will be ineligible.

From The Daily Beast

No evidence exists that there was ever any law making a Roman tribune ineligible for relection.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Jefferson was inclined at first to have the President elected for seven years, and be thereafter ineligible.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps he would like a list of the ineligible young men in the neighbourhood?

From Project Gutenberg

That she may have to marry a more ineligible person than the one refused is here implied.

From Project Gutenberg

He was thrown into prison and, in 1572, was sentenced to penance and reclusion, thus rendering him ineligible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• unavailable
• unfit
• unqualified
• unsuitable