disqualify

verb

dis·​qual·​i·​fy (ˌ)dis-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī 

disqualified; disqualifying; disqualifies

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of the required qualities, properties, or conditions : make unfit

2

: to deprive of a power, right, or privilege

3

: to make ineligible for a prize or for further competition because of violations of the rules

Examples of disqualify in a Sentence

His poor eyesight disqualified him from becoming a pilot.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the case stalled after the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified District Attorney Fani Willis from continuing to prosecute it. —Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

This week, a judge denied the state’s request to disqualify Wyandotte County judges from the criminal case against Fatherley. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Nov. 2025

Telefilm Canada, which coordinates the selection process for the country’s Oscars submission, at first disqualified the buzzy Sundance breakout for being a minority coproduction between Canada, France, Poland and Turkey. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025

Now, nearly a year after Willis was disqualified, Skandalakis has assigned the case to himself. —Solcyré Burga, Time, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for disqualify

• acidify
• alveoli
• areolae
• demystify
• detoxify
• diversify
• electrify
• exemplify
• fasciculi
• identify
• indemnify
• intensify

Kids Definition

disqualify

verb

dis·​qual·​i·​fy (ˈ)dis-ˈkwäl-ə-ˌfī 

disqualified; disqualifying

: to make or declare unfit or not qualified

Legal Definition

disqualify

transitive verb

dis·​qual·​i·​fy dis-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī 

disqualified; disqualifying

1

: to deprive of the required qualities, properties, or conditions

a financial interest in the case that disqualified the judge

2

: to deprive of a right or privilege especially after a hearing

misconduct that disqualified the employee from receiving unemployment benefits