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

In a straw purchase, an individual buys a firearm for someone ineligible to purchase or possess guns. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025

Harvard does not have a constitutional right to taxpayer dollars and remains ineligible for grants in the future. —Jenna Sundel gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

For those who are ineligible but still wish to get vaccinated, there are considerable hurdles, including questions around insurance coverage. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Nelson was deemed ineligible for bail and is scheduled to appear for his arraignment Thursday afternoon in Sacramento Superior Court. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 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