qualification

[ kwol-uh-fi-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. a quality, accomplishment, etc., that fits a person for some function, office, or the like.
2. a circumstance or condition required by law or custom for getting, having, or exercising a right, holding an office, or the like.
3. the act of qualifying; state of being qualified. qualify.
4. modification, limitation, or restriction:

   to endorse a plan without qualification.

   Synonyms: condition, stipulation, reservation

5. an instance of this:

   He protected his argument with several qualifications.

qualification

/ ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. an official record of achievement awarded on the successful completion of a course of training or passing of an exam
2. an ability, quality, or attribute, esp one that fits a person to perform a particular job or task

   he has no qualifications to be a teacher

3. a condition that modifies or limits; restriction
4. the act of qualifying or state of being qualified

Other Words From

• nonqual·i·fi·cation noun
• over·quali·fi·cation noun
• prequal·i·fi·cation noun
• requal·i·fi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of qualification¹

1535–45; < Medieval Latin quālificātiōn- (stem of quālificātiō ), equivalent to quālificāt ( us ) (past participle of quālificāre to qualify ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

In Trump’s execrable universe that passes for exemplary qualifications to do a serious job.

From Salon

Both left school with few qualifications and worked their way up through the union movement, before entering politics.

From BBC

Virtually none of the people the president-elect is choosing to lead the various departments have any qualifications for the jobs he's putting them into and little or no management experience of any kind.

From Salon

And last month, a woman was jailed for five years after lying about her experience and qualifications to get a job as a senior nurse in a unit for sick and premature babies.

From BBC

“I don’t have any idea of her qualifications on education, and I’ve not heard her enunciate a vision that gives me much confidence that it’s anything other than payback for political support,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accomplishment
• adequacy
• capability
• competence
• eligibility
• experience
• fitness
• quality
• skill
• suitability