qualification
Americannoun
-
a quality, accomplishment, etc., that fits a person for some function, office, or the like.
-
a circumstance or condition required by law or custom for getting, having, or exercising a right, holding an office, or the like.
-
the act of qualifying; state of being qualified.
-
modification, limitation, or restriction.
to endorse a plan without qualification.
- Synonyms:
- condition, stipulation, reservation
-
an instance of this.
He protected his argument with several qualifications.
noun
-
an official record of achievement awarded on the successful completion of a course of training or passing of an exam
-
an ability, quality, or attribute, esp one that fits a person to perform a particular job or task
he has no qualifications to be a teacher
-
a condition that modifies or limits; restriction
-
the act of qualifying or state of being qualified
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of qualification
1535–45; < Medieval Latin quālificātiōn- (stem of quālificātiō ), equivalent to quālificāt ( us ) (past participle of quālificāre to qualify ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A qualification is either a condition that must be met or a statement that puts a limit on a claim. Both kinds of qualification are restrictive. You know how there are requirements for jobs? You can call those requirements qualifications. For example, a college degree and certain experiences are qualifications for many jobs: without them, you won't even get a job interview. A qualification is also a type of statement that makes a previous statement more specific. If you said "I'm thirsty!" and then added "Not for root beer, though," your second statement is a qualification. Qualifications add a limit to what's been said.
Vocabulary lists containing qualification
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B. Anthony
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He previously spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, and guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
It was under the Dane that Sweden's hopes of automatic World Cup qualification from their group became impossible.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
The average age of U.S. players in qualification was just 24.1 years old, the youngest of any team to reach the tournament.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
"Paraguay has shown in qualification for this World Cup, how tough it is to play against, and how they perform so well. They beat Argentina, Brazil," coach Mauricio Pochettino told AFP.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
When I passed the qualification exam, I went to work as a fully- fledged attorney at the firm of H. M. Basner.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
