ineligible

adjective

in·​el·​i·​gi·​ble (ˌ)i-ˈne-lə-jə-bəl 

: not eligible: such as

a

: not qualified for an office or position

b

: not permitted under football rules to catch a forward pass

an ineligible receiver

ineligibility

(ˌ)i-ˌne-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

ineligible noun

Examples of ineligible in a Sentence

Previously ineligible patients may now be able to participate in the study.

They are ineligible for a loan.

Recent Examples on the Web

He is being held in the Sacramento County Main Jail and is ineligible for bail. —Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024

And, of course, middle-income families not on Medicaid are ineligible. —Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Ensuring undocumented immigrants — whom Trump has vowed to deport — are ineligible for public housing to help end sanctuary cities, and reinstate rules that prevent immigrants dependent on public benefits from receiving legal status. —Sophia Cai, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024

But later, it was ruled ineligible because the Academy judged more than half of its dialogue was in English. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French inéligible, from in- + éligible eligible

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ineligible

adjective

in·​el·​i·​gi·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈel-ə-jə-bəl 

: not qualified to be chosen or used

ineligibility

(ˌ)in-ˌel-ə-jə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

ineligible noun