eligibility
noun
el·i·gi·bil·i·ty
ˌe-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
: 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
David A. KaplanMass 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
Sasha Abramsky
Examples of eligibility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Donald Trump The Colorado Supreme Court agreed to take up an appeal of a state judge’s ruling allowing the former president to remain on the state’s primary ballot, in a battle over his eligibility to run for president again.
—Rebecca Davis O’Brien, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023
Now the Bruins have to get up for Cal, a competent opponent that desperately wants to win the last Pac-12 contest between the programs and clinch bowl eligibility.
—J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023
An administrative law judge in Georgia found there was not enough evidence that Greene engaged in insurrection and should be kept off the ballot there, while Cawthorn's defeat in his primary ended the challenge to his eligibility.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023
After 10 games this season, his final one of eligibility, his 8.5 tackles per game are good for third in the Big 12.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
Indeed, the band deserves to go in its first year of eligibility – 2025 – a la Pearl Jam and Eminem.
—Jim Harrington, SPIN, 8 Nov. 2023
The Tigers has bounced back from a four-game losing streak with wins over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas the past three weeks to gain bowl eligibility.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 12 Nov. 2023
What a win means A victory is essential if SDSU is to keep alive its hopes of reaching six victories and extending its school-record bowl eligibility streak to 14 years.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
In order to stay within the traditional end of the TV season, wrapping up in May (which will also keep them within the Emmy eligibility window), many broadcast shows are eyeing shorter seasons consisting of 10-13 episodes, as mentioned above, instead of the usual 22-24.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023
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Rebecca Davis O’Brien, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023
Now the Bruins have to get up for Cal, a competent opponent that desperately wants to win the last Pac-12 contest between the programs and clinch bowl eligibility.
—J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023
An administrative law judge in Georgia found there was not enough evidence that Greene engaged in insurrection and should be kept off the ballot there, while Cawthorn's defeat in his primary ended the challenge to his eligibility.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023
After 10 games this season, his final one of eligibility, his 8.5 tackles per game are good for third in the Big 12.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2023
Indeed, the band deserves to go in its first year of eligibility – 2025 – a la Pearl Jam and Eminem.
—Jim Harrington, SPIN, 8 Nov. 2023
The Tigers has bounced back from a four-game losing streak with wins over Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas the past three weeks to gain bowl eligibility.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 12 Nov. 2023
What a win means A victory is essential if SDSU is to keep alive its hopes of reaching six victories and extending its school-record bowl eligibility streak to 14 years.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023
In order to stay within the traditional end of the TV season, wrapping up in May (which will also keep them within the Emmy eligibility window), many broadcast shows are eyeing shorter seasons consisting of 10-13 episodes, as mentioned above, instead of the usual 22-24.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Nov. 2023
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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
Phrases Containing eligibility
Dictionary Entries Near eligibility
Cite this Entry
“Eligibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eligibility. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on eligibility
Nglish: Translation of eligibility for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of eligibility for Arabic Speakers
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