eligible

[ el-i-juh-buhl ]

adjective

1. fit or proper to be chosen; worthy of choice; desirable:

   to marry an eligible bachelor.

   Synonyms: suitable, fitting

   Antonyms: unacceptable, unsuitable, ineligible

2. meeting the stipulated requirements, as to participate, compete, or work; qualified.
3. legally qualified to be elected or appointed to office:

   eligible for the presidency.

noun

1. a person or thing that is eligible:

   Among the eligibles, only a few are running for office.

eligible

/ ˈɛlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

1. fit, worthy, or qualified, as for an office or function
2. desirable and worthy of being chosen, esp as a spouse

   an eligible young man

Derived Forms

• ˈeligibly, adverb
• ˌeligiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• eli·gi·bili·ty eli·gi·ble·ness noun
• eli·gi·bly adverb
• non·eli·gi·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of eligible¹

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”; e- ¹, -ible

Word History and Origins

Origin of eligible¹

C15: from Late Latin ēligibilis able to be chosen, from ēligere to elect

Example Sentences

Projects that are 100% affordable would be eligible for incentives across a wider swath of the city.

From Los Angeles Times

This is a line of spending which is “mandatory”, meaning it must be spent by law on those eligible.

From BBC

Only terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live who have a settled wish to end their lives would be eligible under the new law.

From BBC

PayPal says tickets that have been purchased are eligible for Buyer Protection, which covers purchases that don’t arrive or don’t match the seller’s description.

From BBC

She said many Latino parents don’t know how to access the district’s special academic programs, or don’t think their children are eligible for them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acceptable
• likely
• qualified
• suitable