eligibility
/ˌelɪdʒəˈbɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɛlɪdʒəbˈɪlɪti] /ˌelɪdʒəˈbɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɛlɪdʒəbˈɪlɪti] /ˌe-lə-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)
eligibility — noun
1. Whether someone meets the rules or standards that permit them to take part in an
Whether someone meets the rules or standards that permit them to take part in an activity, receive a benefit, or be considered for a position.
Passing the exam is a key requirement for eligibility to enter the nursing programme.
eligibility + to-infinitive
Sophia checked the website to find out her eligibility for the study-abroad grant.
eligibility + for [benefit/programme]
The clinic sent Mr. Faisal a letter confirming his eligibility for free dental care.
Quinn was unsure about his eligibility for the basketball team after turning seventeen.
The government reviews each family's income to determine their eligibility for housing support.
- qualification
refers to the specific credentials or requirements met, whereas eligibility is the resulting state of being allowed
- admissibility
more formal and narrower — usually about being allowed entry or being accepted as valid evidence
- suitability
focuses on being appropriate or fitting, rather than meeting formal rules
- ineligibility
the state of not meeting the required conditions
文法句型
eligibility + for [something]
eligibility + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Uncountable only. Often appears in official or administrative contexts such as applications, benefits, competitions, and admissions. The subject is typically a person, an organisation, or a condition.
常見錯誤
2. A traditional or literary term for how suitable someone is as a husband or wife,
A traditional or literary term for how suitable someone is as a husband or wife, judged by wealth, social standing, or physical attractiveness.
In some communities, a person's eligibility as a marriage partner rests on their family name.
eligibility + as + role
The novel describes how the Bennett sisters' eligibility is judged mainly by their father's income.
passive: eligibility is judged
Romi's wealthy relatives often discussed her eligibility for a good marriage at family dinners.
Apinya felt that her eligibility as a bride rested on her education, not her looks.
- desirability
broader — can apply to anything wanted; eligibility in this sense is specific to marriage suitability
- marriageability
a direct synonym but even rarer in contemporary usage
文法句型
eligibility + as [role]
eligibility + for [marriage]
用法筆記
This sense is older and much less common in everyday modern English. It typically appears in historical fiction, literary analysis, or discussions of traditional matchmaking customs. Distinguish from sense 1, which deals with official rules and conditions.