qualified
Americanadjective
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having the qualities, accomplishments, etc., that fit a person for some function, office, or the like.
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having the qualities, accomplishments, etc., required by law or custom for getting, having, or exercising a right, holding an office, or the like.
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modified, limited, or restricted in some way.
a qualified endorsement.
adjective
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having the abilities, qualities, attributes, etc, necessary to perform a particular job or task
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limited, modified, or restricted; not absolute
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of qualified
Explanation
Qualified means something depends on another action occurring. If your friend receives a qualified offer on her house, that means something else has to happen — like a bank approving the loan — before it's sold. Qualified is an adjective with multiple meanings. Employers seek the most qualified applicants, meaning those who have the most experience and relevant training. Being qualified might also mean you have paperwork that shows you had certain training or meet certain standards. Or qualified can mean "partial" or "incomplete." If you approve of something but others need to agree before it's final, you would give your qualified approval.
Vocabulary lists containing qualified
Excerpt from "The Philosophy of Literary Form" by Kenneth Burke
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Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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40 SAT words Beginning with "Q"
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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.
To ensure compliance, Sykes ordered ICE to provide access to “two qualified, independent, third-party monitors for the duration of this litigation or until terminated by court order,” according to the court order.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
“We appreciate your willingness to give us insight and guidance on issues you are uniquely qualified to assist us on,” he wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
With a Roth, you pay the tax now, at whatever rate you’re in today, and you never pay tax on qualified withdrawals.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
At Oxford, he excelled in athletics, winning a Blue, although it was doubtful whether his course qualified him to be a bona fide member of the University.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
This said that employers had to grant employees unpaid leave while ensuring their job security for an amount of time in the event of qualified family and medical emergencies.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
