eligibility

eligibility — noun

1. the official status of meeting the rules, age limits, or other conditions needed

1.名詞B2
釋義

the official status of meeting the rules, age limits, or other conditions needed to take part in a program, receive a service, or apply for a position

例句

Baraka checked whether his visa type affected his eligibility for the scholarship.

eligibility for [opportunity] — checking conditions

New rules changed the eligibility criteria for housing assistance in the city.

eligibility criteria + for [program]

同義詞
  • qualification

    focuses on specific credentials or training earned rather than meeting general conditions

  • fitness

    emphasises suitability in ability or health rather than official rule compliance

  • suitability

    broader; can refer to personal compatibility rather than formal criteria

  • worthiness

    adds a moral or merit-based dimension not present in 'eligibility'

反義詞
  • ineligibility

    the direct opposite — the state of not meeting the required conditions

  • disqualification

    implies a specific action or ruling that removes eligibility

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the patterns 'eligibility for [something]' and 'eligibility to [do something]'. Subject is typically a person or a group, and the noun is often modified by adjectives such as 'full', 'immediate', or 'limited'.

常見錯誤

❌I need to check my eligibility of the job.
✅I need to check my eligibility for the job.
💡The correct preposition after 'eligibility' is 'for', not 'of', when naming the opportunity.
❌He has eligibility to the program.
✅He has eligibility for the program.
💡Use 'for', not 'to', after 'eligibility' when referring to a specific program or benefit.

2. the quality of appearing to be a suitable marriage partner, particularly because

2.名詞C1
釋義

the quality of appearing to be a suitable marriage partner, particularly because of financial status, physical appearance, or social standing

例句

In some communities, a family's land and income determine a young person's eligibility for marriage.

eligibility for marriage — traditional social context

Meera's reputation and education were seen as signs of her eligibility by local matchmakers.

eligibility + possessive: perceived by matchmakers

同義詞
  • desirability

    a broader term for being wanted as a partner; less tied to formal social criteria

  • marriageability

    a close synonym but even more restricted in register and frequency

反義詞
  • undesirability

    the opposite quality — being considered unsuitable as a partner

用法筆記

Less common in modern everyday English; found more often in older literature, historical contexts, or discussions of traditional matchmaking. Frequently paired with a possessive determiner ('her eligibility', 'his eligibility').