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

The bill includes $31 million to restore eligibility to over 11,000 people until the Legislature passes a budget. —Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Here's a breakdown of the eligibility requirements by program type. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

Several elderly parole bills pending A few hours after the news conference, Republican Assembly members Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, and Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, announced legislation that would raise the minimum age for eligibility for the Elderly Parole Program to 65. —Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026

The bill includes $31 million to restore eligibility to over 11,000 people until the legislature passes a budget. —Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 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