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

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

Winner will be notified using the contact information provided and may be required to complete eligibility, liability and publicity releases. — Sponsored Content, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026

Only 6% were due to incomes surpassing the eligibility limit. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

Kanter Freedom and White have declared their intention to enter next year’s draft, but the WNBA has not publicly addressed their eligibility. — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

The eligibility chaos across college football has seeped into depth charts for several programs with the regular season fast approaching. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing eligibility

• re-eligibility

Rhymes for eligibility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability