disqualify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to deprive of qualification or fitness; render unfit; incapacitate.
-
to deprive of legal, official, or other rights or privileges; declare ineligible or unqualified.
-
Sports. to deprive of the right to participate in or win a contest because of a violation of the rules.
verb
-
to make unfit or unqualified
-
to make ineligible, as for entry to an examination
-
to debar (a player or team) from a sporting contest
-
to divest or deprive of rights, powers, or privileges
disqualified from driving
Other Word Forms
- disqualifiable adjective
- disqualification noun
- disqualifier noun
- nondisqualifying adjective
- undisqualifiable adjective
- undisqualified adjective
Etymology
Origin of disqualify
Explanation
To disqualify someone is to not allow them to participate, or to make them unfit for participation. Turning eleven would disqualify a person from playing on a soccer team for kids ten and under. Judges will disqualify a marathon runner if they discover she's actually wearing roller skates, and a baseball player's age may disqualify him from playing on a certain team. Being blind disqualifies people from driving, and a criminal history can disqualify someone from working at a school. Disqualify adds the "do the opposite of" prefix dis- to qualify, which comes from the medieval Latin root qualificare, "to attribute a quality to."
Vocabulary lists containing disqualify
Power Prefix: dis-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Stone Fox" by John Reynolds Gardiner
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Because They Marched
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“Getting arrested and convicted for multiple crimes, including carrying a concealed loaded gun, should disqualify Estuardo in this race,” Ugarte said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
The court “finds no grounds to disqualify or recuse itself.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
Ukrainians were outraged Thursday by a decision from the International Olympic Committee to disqualify their skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Winter Olympics over his helmet honouring killed athletes.
From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026
"Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise."
From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026
This had better work, because if it doesn’t, Ranger Alford made it clear she’ll disqualify us.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
