unqualified

adjective

un·​qual·​i·​fied ˌən-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)
1
: not fit : not having requisite qualifications
2
: not modified or restricted by reservations : complete
an unqualified denial
unqualifiedly adverb

Example Sentences

He is clearly unqualified for the job. It's a judgment that you are unqualified to make. You have my unqualified support.
Recent Examples on the Web Nearly two-thirds use the technology to screen out candidates deemed unqualified, while 38 percent deploy A.I. software to match candidates to jobs and rank them. Steve Lohr, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2023 Democrats blasted the picks as unqualified. Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2023 The party has a knack for nominating individuals who strike voters as extreme or odd or blatantly unqualified. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 18 Feb. 2023 The American Bar Association rated Benitez as unqualified, largely because of what foes described as his unfavorable temperament. Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Feb. 2023 The binders included all 30 applications, organized by qualified and unqualified. Jason Fontelieu, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2022 Last year, the former second-in-command in the unit, Amy Pentz, testified in a lawsuit that Gascón had hired two public defenders who were unqualified to tackle such cases to serve as prosecutors in the unit. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2023 Shareholders are expected to vote on Icahn’s alternative board candidates — which Illumina argues are unqualified — at the company’s annual meeting. Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2023 Another accuses a lower level employee of steering vouchers to people unqualified to receive them. Steve Thompson, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unqualified.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unqualified was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near unqualified

Cite this Entry

“Unqualified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unqualified. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

unqualified

adjective
un·​qual·​i·​fied ˌən-ˈkwäl-ə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not fit : not having required qualifications
unqualified for the job
2
: not having any exceptions : absolute
an unqualified denial
unqualifiedly adverb

Legal Definition

unqualified

adjective
un·​qual·​i·​fied ˌən-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)
: not qualified

More from Merriam-Webster on unqualified

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