unqualified

/ˌʌnˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [ənkwˈɑlɪfˌaɪd] /ˌʌnˈkwɑːlɪfaɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [ənkwˈɑlɪfˌaɪd] /ˌən-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unqualified — adjective

  • unqualifiedpositive
  • more unqualifiedcomparative
  • most unqualifiedsuperlative

1. describes a person who lacks the formal training, skills, or official approval t

1.形容詞B1
釋義

describes a person who lacks the formal training, skills, or official approval that a particular job or role demands.

例句

Karim was turned down for the engineering post because he was unqualified for the role.

unqualified + for + noun phrase (the role)

The clinic hired an unqualified assistant, which worried the senior nursing staff.

unqualified used before a noun (attributive)

同義詞
  • inexperienced

    focuses on lack of practice rather than formal credentials; someone can be inexperienced but technically qualified

  • untrained

    emphasises that no instruction has been received, not necessarily that the person lacks a certificate

  • unfit

    stronger, suggesting the person is unsuitable for reasons beyond just missing credentials

反義詞
  • qualified

    holds the necessary training, degrees, or experience for the role

  • competent

    has the skill and ability to do the job well

文法句型

unqualified + for + noun phrase

unqualified + to-infinitive

unqualified + noun (before a noun)

用法筆記

Commonly paired with 'for' (before a noun) or 'to' (before a verb). The subject is usually a person or a group of people. This sense often appears in job advertisements, performance reviews, and discussions of professional standards.

常見錯誤

❌She is unqualified for teach children.
✅She is unqualified to teach children.
💡Use 'unqualified to' before a verb, not 'unqualified for' + bare verb.
❌He is unqualified from the position.
✅He is unqualified for the position.
💡The correct preposition is 'for', not 'from'.

2. total and without any limits, conditions, or doubts; used to emphasise that some

2.形容詞B2
釋義

total and without any limits, conditions, or doubts; used to emphasise that something is true in every possible way.

例句

The charity received unqualified support from every family in the neighbourhood.

collocation: unqualified support

Camila's first film was an unqualified success, earning praise from both critics and audiences.

collocation: unqualified success

同義詞
  • complete

    more common in everyday speech; less emphatic than 'unqualified'

  • total

    emphasises that nothing is missing or lacking

  • unconditional

    specifically refers to something given without any requirements; mainly used with 'support', 'love', or 'approval'

  • outright

    stronger, sometimes suggests the result was clear and decisive

反義詞
  • qualified

    limited or expressed with conditions or reservations

  • partial

    not total or complete; only part of something

  • conditional

    dependent on certain conditions being met

文法句型

unqualified + noun (success, support, approval, disaster, admiration, failure)

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (LACKING QUALIFICATIONS), this sense cannot be used after a linking verb — you cannot say 'the success was unqualified'. It appears almost exclusively before a noun and is typical of formal, written English rather than everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌His support was unqualified.
✅He gave the plan his unqualified support.
💡This sense is rarely used predicatively; it normally goes directly before a noun.
❌She is an unqualified fan of the band.' (intended meaning: total/devoted).
✅She is a devoted fan of the band.
💡'Unqualified' before a person noun usually means sense 1 (lacking qualifications), causing confusion.