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

The match ended after Rhodes was disqualified for drilling McIntyre with his championship. —Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

The heartbreak for him is that a bad rule might disqualify him from service, not that the system itself might be bad. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025

To Cuomo, Mamdani is a young man in a hurry whose lack of experience should disqualify him from leading America's largest city. —Christian Orozco, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025

So Moulton is trying to convince a largely older demographic that Markey’s age disqualifies him from serving. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 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