ineligible

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

Examples of ineligible in a Sentence

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

They are ineligible for a loan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Locarno: ‘Prestige, Elegance and Plenty of Press’ Having premiered in Sundance earlier this year, the film was ineligible for Venice, which takes world premieres only, or Toronto. —John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025

The document clarifies when USCIS will forward approved petitions to the Department of State's National Visa Center, especially if a beneficiary originally sought to adjust status within the U.S. but was later found ineligible. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

For states and private plans that insured beneficiaries, there was little downside to signing up ineligible people or keeping them once enrolled. —Jeremy Nighohossian, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025

Attorneys for Rodney Hinton Jr. filed a motion July 25, seeking a court order to make the 38-year-old ineligible for the death penalty. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 26 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French inéligible, from in- + éligible eligible

First Known Use

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