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.
His consistency is underrated, reaching bowl eligibility in 23 of the last 24 seasons with five top-10 finishes. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 21 May 2025 Unlike Diego Pavia, Jett Elad and other college athletes who have sued, with mixed results, over the last seven months to extend their NCAA eligibility clock, Zeigler’s situation doesn’t involve transferring, playing in junior college or Division II, or some other twist. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 May 2025 Moreover, work requirements, plus the proposal to check members’ eligibility twice a year instead of once, exponentially increases program bureaucracy at both the state and federal level. Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025 Former men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard left the program March 30 — just three days after guiding the team to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2016 – for Villanova, and every player on the roster with eligibility entered the transfer portal. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 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 29 May. 2025.

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