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
Jalen Williams has missed most of the year and thus is ineligible for postseason honors.
—
The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Council members told the Journal Sentinel that was the statute cited by the city attorney's office in deeming Procell ineligible.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Another is an apparent noncitizen and ineligible voter who last cast a ballot in 2018 and whose voter registration was canceled by the state Bureau of Elections in 2022.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The school would tread cautiously before declaring the player ineligible, since refusing to pay a monetary fine isn’t a violation of NCAA, conference or scholarship rules.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineligible
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The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Council members told the Journal Sentinel that was the statute cited by the city attorney's office in deeming Procell ineligible.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Another is an apparent noncitizen and ineligible voter who last cast a ballot in 2018 and whose voter registration was canceled by the state Bureau of Elections in 2022.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The school would tread cautiously before declaring the player ineligible, since refusing to pay a monetary fine isn’t a violation of NCAA, conference or scholarship rules.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 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
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