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

The commission says the objective is to remove duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain on the lists. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Her boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp, was 17 and ineligible for a death sentence. — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

The administration says the question would prevent ineligible immigrants from claiming refundable tax credits; privacy advocates warn the data could aid immigration enforcement. — Ken Sweet, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

People who still get premium subsidies are ineligible, as are those who live in the mostly blue states that operate their own exchanges. — Natalia Mittelstadt, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 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