eligibility

noun

el·​i·​gi·​bil·​i·​ty ˌe-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce eligibility (audio)
: the quality or state of being eligible : fitness or suitability to be chosen, selected, or allowed to do something
The applicants must meet all requirements for eligibility.
… should "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, of "Black Sox" infamy, also be granted eligibility for the Hall of Fame?David A. Kaplan
Mass mailings go out to low-income areas, and if a letter is returned as undeliverable, the party uses it to challenge that voter's eligibility.Sasha Abramsky

Examples of eligibility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The law lists three types of criminal history among its criteria for eligibility. Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 There aren’t any citizenship requirements for eligibility into SENTRI. Harrison Pierce, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2024 But Friday is mostly about the seniors, honoring those definitely leaving and those maybe leaving who have an extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA during the pandemic. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 The ruling resolves challenges to Trump's eligibility for office pursued by voters in several other states and comes one day before Super Tuesday, when voters in 15 states will cast their ballots for the Republican presidential nomination. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 Griffin, who worked as a government eligibility technician for the county, was taken before a local judicial official who issued an unsecured bond of $1,500. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 While most asylum claims fail, the immigration court backlog means that people can remain in the U.S. for years, with eligibility for work permits. Baba Ahmed, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2024 Voters are also going to the polls in Maine, another state where Trump’s ballot eligibility is waiting for a ruling from the high court. USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 Cam McCormick, the first player in college football history to be granted a ninth year of eligibility, is out this spring due to an injury. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eligibility.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eligibility was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near eligibility

Cite this Entry

“Eligibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eligibility. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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