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
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
The jury also found true allegations of infliction of death or great bodily injury on each count, making Coleman ineligible for probation, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
—
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
If a potential winner fails to respond to notification, fails to return required documents on time, is found to be ineligible, or otherwise fails to comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate, in Sponsor’s discretion.
—AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
The school is put on probation for five years and the basketball team is forced to vacate 108 wins in which ineligible players participated.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Jill Hanlin spent many years either incarcerated or on supervision after release, and consequently has spent time ineligible to cast a ballot in the state of Missouri.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineligible
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
If a potential winner fails to respond to notification, fails to return required documents on time, is found to be ineligible, or otherwise fails to comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate, in Sponsor’s discretion.
—AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
The school is put on probation for five years and the basketball team is forced to vacate 108 wins in which ineligible players participated.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Jill Hanlin spent many years either incarcerated or on supervision after release, and consequently has spent time ineligible to cast a ballot in the state of Missouri.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineligible
Cite this Entry
“Ineligible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ineligible. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ineligible
adjective
in·el·i·gi·ble
(ˈ)in-ˈel-ə-jə-bəl
: not qualified to be chosen or used
ineligible
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
