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

Middle-income households whose earnings place them just above subsidy eligibility cliffs and who may lose premium relief, according to NC Health News. —Evan Moore november 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2025

During a disaster, the quickest way to get answers about assistance eligibility is usually by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. —Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 12 Nov. 2025

The Recording Academy waits until the nominations are announced to fully research the nominees in this category and determine who meets their eligibility criteria. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 12 Nov. 2025

The Education Department said eligibility standards for what constitutes a qualifying public service employer haven’t been adequately monitored. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025

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