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

There is no minimum income requirement (nor is there an income limit) to apply, and eligibility is based on several factors, including family size, household income and overall financial circumstances. —Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 9 June 2026

Your credit score, revolving credit card balances, payment history and overall debt load are not factors Medicare uses when determining your eligibility. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 June 2026

For many, betting on your own team would seem like a clear path to losing eligibility. —Trey Wallace, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

In short, the NCAA’s cabinet’s recent proposal — which will be voted on later this month — would start athletes’ eligibility clock at enrollment or by their 19th birthday. —Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 9 June 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