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 22-year-old quarterback has reportedly applied to the NFL for eligibility in a supplemental draft to be held this summer, for players who weren’t eligible for the annual draft held in April, but who become eligible thereafter. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 June 2026

Delta’s current Sky Club rules reference a Grab and Go feature, saying existing Sky Club access policies and eligibility rules apply to all Grab and Go entries. —Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026

The Academy also announced several changes to its voting and eligibility rules ahead of the 69th Grammy Awards. —ABC News, 16 June 2026

For more information on eligibility, click here. —Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 16 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