unqualified

adjective

un·​qual·​i·​fied ˌən-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)
1
: not fit : not having requisite qualifications
2
: not modified or restricted by reservations : complete
an unqualified denial
unqualifiedly adverb

Examples of unqualified in a Sentence

He is clearly unqualified for the job. It's a judgment that you are unqualified to make. You have my unqualified support.
Recent Examples on the Web While, for Republicans, there’s no fear of declaring unqualified support for Israel, Democrats are torn between the traditional wing of their party and the influential Left, which despises the Jewish state. The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 The GOP accused the federal government of using racial quotas to promote unqualified Black workers at the expense of white workers. Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 The state has cited the campus at least 30 times in the past three years for problems including medication errors, allowing unqualified employees to work with residents and failing to train for fall prevention and recovery. Caitlin McGlade, The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 One common complaint from screenwriters is that their work is at the mercy of siloed decision-making, and a promising career can be derailed by one review — often from an intern, unqualified reader and increasingly an algorithm. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 Activists like Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and hedge-fund investor, Bill Ackman, claimed that Gay was unqualified and hired as a result of Harvard’s DEI policies. Thalia Beaty, Quartz, 8 Feb. 2024 With women barred from teaching boys, the group found, they are often replaced by unqualified male teachers or not replaced at all. Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 1 Jan. 2024 Commencing on the Effective Date, the Voting Trust Board shall have the full, exclusive and unqualified right and power to exercise the Voting Powers. Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024 The authorities are investigating numerous cases of unqualified people acting as lawyers. Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unqualified.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unqualified was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near unqualified

Cite this Entry

“Unqualified.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unqualified. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unqualified

adjective
un·​qual·​i·​fied ˌən-ˈkwäl-ə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not fit : not having required qualifications
unqualified for the job
2
: not having any exceptions : absolute
an unqualified denial
unqualifiedly adverb

Legal Definition

unqualified

adjective
un·​qual·​i·​fied ˌən-ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd How to pronounce unqualified (audio)
: not qualified

More from Merriam-Webster on unqualified

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