Uneligible Vs. Ineligible: Which Should You Use In Writing?

Uneligible vs. ineligible: which is the correct opposite of eligible? Many people confuse these words because most dictionaries only recognize ineligible and not uneligible. Some argue that only one word is correct while the other is not.

Ineligible means “not eligible.” This adjective refers to someone forbidden to do something or not qualified for an office, post, or position. On the other hand, uneligible is a synonym for ineligible. These words have the same definition, but ineligible is the most accepted and preferred version.

When forming the opposites of various words, you can use the word-forming element “in-“ or “un-.” Some words take on either of these word-forming elements, while others can use both. Read on to know the answer to the question asked at the beginning of this article and a lot more regarding these words.

Definitions Of Uneligible And Ineligible

Definitions are the best way to differentiate words and determine whether they are correct. However, you must know all the definitions of a certain word, especially for words with various meanings. Let us define the words uneligible and ineligible below.

Definitions Of Uneligible

This adjective means “not eligible.” In simpler terms, it is the opposite of eligible. Eligible means “fit or proper to be chosen, worthy of choice, desirable.”

Therefore, uneligible means not proper or fit to be chosen for a position or post, unworthy and undesirable. Another source defines uneligible as another word for (synonym) ineligible.

Definitions Of Ineligible

Ineligible means “not eligible or forbidden to do something.” Another close meaning is “not qualified to be selected or worthy of a position, an office, or a post.” It means “not worthy of being preferred, chosen, or desirable.”

Another reliable source defines “ineligible” as “prohibited by official rules.” For example, “Immigrants are ineligible to vote in the United States.”

The legal definition of ineligible is “legally or officially unable to be considered for a benefit or a position.”

More Meanings Of Ineligible

• Ineligible means “not suitable or desirable as a marriage partner.”
• As a noun, ineligible refers to “one that is not eligible.”
• Some sources define ineligible as the synonym for uneligible.

Definition Of “Eligible” In Regard To Ineligible And Uneligible

The word “eligible” comes up severally in the definitions of ineligible and uneligible. This is because eligible is the root word for ineligible and uneligible. For this reason, it would be wise to discuss the definitions of eligible.

Here are the meanings of eligible:

• Eligible means “proper to be selected, worthy of choice, or desirable for a position or post.”
• This adjective also means “meeting the stipulated requirements to participate, take on, work, qualify, or compete for a position or duty.”
• In law, eligible means “legally qualified to be elected or appointed to an office.” For example, “eligible for the governor position.”
• As a noun, eligible refers to “a person or thing that is eligible (see definitions above). For example, “The eligible will run for office next year.”

How To Properly Use Uneligible And Ineligible In A Sentence

The definitions section above explains that uneligible and ineligible are different words with the same definition. Such words are called synonyms. Here are some things you should know when using these words in a sentence:

How And When To Use The Word Ineligible

Use this term in the following contexts:

• Explaining something officially or legally unable for consideration for a benefit or post
• Someone or something lacking the necessary standards to meet a specific purpose
• Someone or something undesirable or unsuitable as a romantic or marriage partner
• Lacking or not showing the necessary skills to do something or fulfill a purpose successfully 

Note that this word is an adjective. An adjective is a word that describes a noun. When constructing sentences with an adjective, follow the structures below:

• Subject + to be + adjective. For example, “The candidate is ineligible.”
• Subject + verb + adjective + noun. For example, “James is an ineligible candidate.”
• Place the adjective at the end of your sentence if you want to use it to describe the sentence subject. For example, “My mother is ineligible.”

It is also worth mentioning that adjectives do not have a singular or plural form. So, they always stay the same in plural or singular contexts. Additionally, an adjective should always come before a noun. For example;

• An ineligible candidate (CORRECT)
• A candidate ineligible (INCORRECT)

You can also use this word as a noun when referring to someone not worthy or eligible for a position, office, or post. In this context, you can use the plural form (ineligibles). For example, “The secretary asked the ineligibles to return home.”

How And When To Use The Word Uneligible

Ineligible and uneligible are synonyms. They share the same meaning. Therefore, you can apply the tips explained in the above section when using this word.

Uneligible Vs. Ineligible: Similarities

The key similarity between these words is that they have the same meaning. These words are the opposite of “eligible.” Apart from this, here are other similarities between these words:

The Word “Eligible”

Another similarity between these words is that they both feature the word “eligible” in their spelling. This is because they both denote the opposite of this word.

Syllables

These words have the same number of syllables. Both words have five syllables “in-el-i-gi-ble” and “un-el-i-gi-ble.”

Uneligible vs. ineligible: The Differences

These words have a lot in common. However, below are some characteristics that set them apart:

The “un-“ and “in-“ Word-Forming Elements

The word ineligible comes from the word-forming elements “in- + eligible.” “In-” is a word-forming element meaning “not, opposite of, or without.” It comes from the Latin word “in,” meaning “not.”

In contrast, the word uneligible comes from the word-forming elements “un- + eligible.” “Un-” is a prefix of negation from the Old English “un,” meaning “untrue, not, lie, or the opposite.”

Pronunciation

While there are similarities in their pronunciations, they are not 100% the same. The correct way to say ‘ineligible” is “/in-el-i-juh-buh/.” In contrast, the proper way to say “uneligible” is “/un-el-i-juh-buh/.”

Popularity and Usage

While both words are correct, ineligible is more popular. In fact, most sources do not recognize uneligible as a correct English word. For this reason, the former spelling is more popular among English speakers.

List Of Examples Of Uneligible And Ineligible Use In Sentences

Uneligible and ineligible are simple words with straightforward definitions that you can apply in everyday conversations. Here are a few sentences to show you how you can use these words:

Example sentences of the word uneligible

1. The senator is uneligible for the governor’s office. 
2. The party will not allow the uneligible candidate to submit his petition to vie for the office. 
3. Jane did not get the job because she was uneligible. 
4. Fidelis cannot vie for the position because he is uneligible. 
5. Damaris was uneligible for the managerial position because of her academic qualifications. 

Example sentences of the word ineligible

1. My family is ineligible to vote in the coming elections. 
2. Despite his desire to run for office, Dr. Kunal was ineligible. 
3. The party found another candidate because Simon was ineligible for the post. 
4. The school vice chancellor is ineligible for a third term in office. 
5. Despite serving the company for several years, Peter was ineligible for the managerial position. 

Conclusion

Ineligible and uneligible are synonyms. Synonyms are differently spelled words with similar definitions. So, you can use them in sentences because they are both correct English words.

However, it would be wiser to use “ineligible” instead of “uneligible,” especially in formal writing, because it is a universally preferred spelling. Read this article exhaustively, then construct some sentences using these words to test your understanding.