eligible
Americanadjective
-
fit or proper to be chosen; worthy of choice; desirable.
to marry an eligible bachelor.
- Antonyms:
- unacceptable, unsuitable, ineligible
-
meeting the stipulated requirements, as to participate, compete, or work; qualified.
-
legally qualified to be elected or appointed to office.
eligible for the presidency.
noun
adjective
-
fit, worthy, or qualified, as for an office or function
-
desirable and worthy of being chosen, esp as a spouse
an eligible young man
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of eligible
First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle French or directly from Late Latin ēligibilis, equivalent to Latin ē- “out of, from” + lig- (combining form of leg-, stem of legere “to choose, select”) + -bilis “capable of, susceptible of, tending to”; see e- 1, -ible
Explanation
If you get good grades, volunteer at the hospital, play varsity sports, and write for your school paper, you might be eligible for a college scholarship. If you’re eligible for something, you’re either qualified for it or allowed to do it. You’re eligible for unemployment benefits if you’ve recently been laid off, but not if you've never had a job in the first place. You may not be eligible to enter a sweepstakes if you work for the company giving away the money. Neither your dog nor your friend from Australia is eligible to run for president of the United States, but you might be!
Vocabulary lists containing eligible
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 1–7
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Tangerine
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Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The statement said Morales remains in “good standing,” a classification that makes him eligible for the new transition job.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Newsom’s signing of the bill into law last week raises the enrollment cap for the program from 15% of California’s licensed drivers to 60% — making as many as 21 million Californian’s eligible to participate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
The mother of police officer Andrew Harper has said it feels like an "insult" that two of her son's killers may be eligible for early release from prison.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
A core feature of Australian superannuation is a legal requirement that employers contribute 12% of an eligible employee’s annual earnings to privately managed super funds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Speaking of that, though” — he grabs a piece of paper from his desk and hands it to me — “your name’s not on the list of athletes eligible for a scholarship.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.