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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 1980, to avoid a strike, an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA changed the eligibility for players' health coverage to just one game day and 43 game days for monthly benefits. Nick Coppola, USA Today, 19 July 2025 The losses are tied to federal funding cutbacks and will be felt in agency efforts to help lower-income Arizonans assess eligibility for benefits including SNAP or the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. Russ Wiles, AZCentral.com, 18 July 2025 The Village Board made way Tuesday for a feasibility study to determine the eligibility of properties within the shopping center for a TIF district. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025 The lawsuit claims the rule imposes burdensome and expensive paperwork and will force consumers to spend millions to prove eligibility for coverage and subsidies. Reuters, NBC news, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for eligibility

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of eligibility was in 1651

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Cite this Entry

“Eligibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eligibility. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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