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.
You can put away pretax money in these accounts, have it grow tax-free and then use it tax-free for qualified medical expenses.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
The interns we hired are extremely qualified and AI-native.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
She took part in ceremonies for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, as well as King Charles' coronation in 2023 and had recently qualified as an advanced regimental riding instructor.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The Justice Department built up this reputation over decades of extreme competency—like, really qualified people who were obviously going to do the ethical thing and never lie to judges.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
Harry felt, however, that the Half-Blood Prince’s copy of Advanced Potion-Making hardly qualified as a textbook.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
