Disqualified
/dɪsˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/
Definitions
To officially prevent someone from taking part in a competition or activity because they have broken a rule.
/dɪsˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/
To declare someone or something ineligible to participate in a competition or activity.
The team was disqualified from the championship due to a violation of the rules.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game, and you break the rules. Getting disqualified is like being kicked out of the game because you're not allowed to play anymore. It's like when a racer is told they can't win because they jumped the start.
👶 For kids: When you're disqualified, it means you can't play a game or be in a contest anymore because you did something wrong.
More Examples
The referee disqualified the boxer after he delivered a low blow.
The candidate was disqualified from the election because of an error in the filing of paperwork.
How It's Used
"The athlete was disqualified for using performance-enhancing drugs."
"The judge disqualified himself from the case due to a conflict of interest."
"She was disqualified from the contest because she didn't follow the rules."
Idioms & expressions
disqualify oneself
To voluntarily withdraw oneself from a competition or activity due to personal reasons, rule violation, or conflict of interest.
"The lawyer disqualified herself from the case due to a previous relationship with the defendant."
From dis- (meaning 'not' or 'opposite of') + qualify (from Latin qualis, meaning 'of what kind'). The 'dis-' prefix indicates the act of making someone or something no longer meeting the requirements or standards for something.
The term has been used in legal and competitive contexts for centuries, evolving from the notion of lacking the necessary 'qualifications'. Early uses focused on legal contexts.
Memory tip
Think of someone being *disqualified* from a race by the judges because they cheated. The 'dis-' prefix means 'not' or 'opposite,' so it's about *not* being qualified.
Word Origin
"to make fit; to have the required qualities"