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

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will ask the Football League for permission to play Marc Guehi in the League Cup final against Arsenal even though the England defender is ineligible for the Wembley showdown.

From Barron's

The designation makes group members ineligible to enter the US, freezes any assets they may have there and makes it a crime to provide material support to the group.

From BBC

Carbery, 30, is ineligible to feature for his country as he plays his club rugby abroad, but he has been heavily linked with a return back to Ireland for next season.

From Barron's

Carbery, 30, is ineligible to feature for his country as he plays his club rugby abroad, but has been heavily linked with a return back to Ireland for next season.

From Barron's

Industry groups, meanwhile, worked with a third-party firm to develop lists of what they deemed as ineligible items, and some states have licensed or produced their own.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• unavailable
• unfit
• unqualified
• unsuitable