ineligible

1 of 2

adjective

in·​el·​i·​gi·​ble (ˌ)i-ˈne-lə-jə-bəl 

: not eligible: such as

a

: not qualified for an office or position

b

: not permitted under football rules to catch a forward pass

an ineligible receiver

ineligibility

(ˌ)i-ˌne-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

ineligible noun

ineligibility

2 of 2

noun

in·​eligibility (¦)in 

ən+

: the condition or fact of being ineligible

Examples of ineligible in a Sentence

Adjective

Previously ineligible patients may now be able to participate in the study.

They are ineligible for a loan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In addition, the players would be ineligible to play for the first 14 days when the season resumes after the Olympics, according to a proposal from the commissioner’s office to the players’ union and obtained by The Times. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Those players would also be ineligible to play for the first 14 days when the season resumes after the Olympics, according to a proposal from the commissioner’s office to the players’ union, obtained by The Los Angeles Times. — Mercury News, 14 July 2026

Last year, the show was ineligible after airing only four episodes within the eligibility window, which runs through May 31. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 July 2026

While Heated Rivalry has been scooping up major awards from various guilds and voting groups, including for leads Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, the show remains ineligible for Emmys consideration. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French inéligible, from in- + éligible eligible

First Known Use

Adjective

1770, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ineligible

• eligible
• intelligible
• unintelligible

Kids Definition

ineligible

adjective

in·​el·​i·​gi·​ble (ˈ)in-ˈel-ə-jə-bəl 

: not qualified to be chosen or used

ineligibility

(ˌ)in-ˌel-ə-jə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

ineligible noun