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

This week, Tech ruled him ineligible primarily because officials felt the NCAA would eventually do it. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026

Luis, in other words, appears to be ineligible to play at LSU. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 May 2026

Jail records list him as ineligible for release and show a murder charge along with a federal hold in connection with Bravo’s death. —Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026

In 2024, California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training formally declared Fuhrman permanently ineligible to serve as a law enforcement officer in the state because of his felony conviction. —City News Service, Daily News, 18 May 2026

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