disqualify
verb
dis·qual·i·fy
(ˌ)dis-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfī 
disqualified; disqualifying; disqualifies
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
Under pressure to fill vacancies quickly, agencies often rush background checks, shorten psychological screenings, and overlook red flags that would normally disqualify candidates.
—
Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet, and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
After winning the opposition’s 2023 primary with an overwhelming 92 percent of the vote, she was disqualified by the government’s comptroller, which accused her of administrative irregularities and barred her from holding public office for 15 years.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
From that lens, the NCAA portrays the objectors as relying on a novel or quixotic theory (the counterargument, of course, is that the House settlement’s features are matters of first impression for any court and the lack of precedent shouldn’t be disqualifying).
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disqualify
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Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet, and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
After winning the opposition’s 2023 primary with an overwhelming 92 percent of the vote, she was disqualified by the government’s comptroller, which accused her of administrative irregularities and barred her from holding public office for 15 years.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
From that lens, the NCAA portrays the objectors as relying on a novel or quixotic theory (the counterargument, of course, is that the House settlement’s features are matters of first impression for any court and the lack of precedent shouldn’t be disqualifying).
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disqualify
Cite this Entry
“Disqualify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disqualify. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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