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

Even then, insurers can argue that a denial is ineligible for an external review. —Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025

By signing the contract, Misa is now ineligible to play at the NCAA level. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025

Just note that these little creatures are final sale items and are therefore ineligible for returns. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 10 Sep. 2025

The teen was booked into the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of possession of a firearm by an ineligible person. —Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 9 Sep. 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