Qualified

/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/

adjectivemedium📊CommonAbility
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Having fulfilled the requirements or conditions; possessing the necessary skills or knowledge.

/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/

adjectivepositivemedium
Ability

Having the necessary skills, knowledge, or experience.

The candidates are all qualified for the job.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying out for a sports team. You're qualified if you've practiced, know the rules, and have the skills needed to play. It means you meet the requirements!

👶 For kids: It means you're good enough to do something because you have the right skills or know-how.

More Examples

2

She is a qualified doctor.

3

Only qualified personnel are allowed in the control room.

How It's Used

Employment

"The applicant is highly qualified for the position."

Education

"She's a qualified teacher with years of experience."

2

Modified or limited; subject to certain conditions or restrictions.

/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪd/

adjectiveneutralmedium
Condition

Limited or restricted in some way.

The judge gave a qualified approval of the plan.

💡 Simply: Imagine you say you like pizza, but you're qualified, meaning 'except when it has pineapple.' It's a limited version of the first statement.

👶 For kids: It means it has some rules or changes.

More Examples

2

Her support was qualified, as she had reservations.

3

They offered a qualified apology.

How It's Used

Law

"The agreement was qualified by certain conditions."

General

"Her acceptance was qualified by her concerns about the location."

Tip:Think of 'qualifying' a statement by adding conditions.

Idioms & expressions

qualified immunity

A legal doctrine that shields government officials from liability in civil lawsuits unless their conduct violates clearly established statutory or constitutional rights, and there is no reasonable belief that their action was lawful.

"The police officer was granted qualified immunity."

qualified opinion

An auditor's statement that indicates that financial statements are presented fairly, but that there are some unresolved issues or limitations on the scope of the audit.

"The auditors issued a qualified opinion on the company's financial statements."

From Middle English qualifien, from Old French qualifier, from Latin qualificāre ('to qualify'), from qualis ('of what kind, what sort') + facere ('to make').

The word 'qualified' has been in use since the 15th century, initially with a sense of 'to be of a certain kind' and later evolving to indicate skills or limitations.

Memory tip

Think of 'qualify' as achieving the necessary 'qualities'.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to make of a certain quality"

highly qualifiedfully qualifiedwell qualifiedqualified applicantqualified opinionqualified immunity

Common misspellings

qualifedqualifidequalafied

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written