qualification
Americannoun
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qualifications
plural
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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.
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the act of qualifying; state of being qualified.
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modification, limitation, or restriction.
to endorse a plan without qualification.
- Synonyms:
- condition, stipulation, reservation
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an instance of this.
He protected his argument with several qualifications.
noun
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an official record of achievement awarded on the successful completion of a course of training or passing of an exam
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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
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a condition that modifies or limits; restriction
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the act of qualifying or state of being qualified
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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)
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"On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B. Anthony
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"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe
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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.
See Examples For:
Scotland has a different qualification system, external, with Nationals instead of GCSEs and Highers, which are similar to A-levels.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Sunrisers Leeds moved closer to securing qualification for The Hundred's knockout stages with a comprehensive 71-run win over Welsh Fire.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
These issues need to be ironed out quickly by the coaching staff as their Europa League qualification hangs in the balance prior to Thursday's second leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
Yet with every advantage afforded to them—automatic qualification, boisterous home crowds and even an assist from the Oval Office—they also demonstrated how far they were from legitimately contending.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
I stayed at Helman and Michel for a number of months while I was studying for my qualification exam, which would establish me as a fully-fledged attorney.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
T-levels are also continuing to expand as part of reforms to technical education, although the new qualifications have faced challenges including delays, concerns over student retention and issues with some assessments.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The government has said BTecs and other qualifications will continue to play a role alongside A-levels, T-levels and apprenticeships.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Around 250,000 grades for vocational and technical qualifications are also expected to be released to students in England, including BTec National, Cambridge Technical, Cambridge Advanced National and T-level results.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
There are big changes on the way for qualifications in Northern Ireland, though they will not affect students currently taking AS or A-level courses.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Burr was then running for governor of New York and Hamilton had attacked his qualifications.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
