Qualified — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd/ qual·i·fied

Meaning & Definition of Qualified

Qualified (adjective)

  1. fitted (as by training or experience) for a given purpose, competent
  2. having complied with the specific requirements or precedent conditions (as for an office or employment), eligible
  3. limited or modified in some way

Qualified (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance

    "the candidate has demonstrated that he is amply qualified for the position"

    similar: able, capable, competent, equal, fit, good, suitable, on the ball
    related: accomplished, ace, adept, experienced, expert, master, masterful, masterly, practiced, proficient, seasoned, skilled, skillful, veteran, overqualified, prepared, schooled, trained, apt, ready, willing, all-around, protean, versatile
    opposite: incompetent, inept, poor, unfit, unfitted, unqualified
    near: inexperienced, inexpert, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful, unprepared, unschooled, untrained, beginning, green, new, raw, untested, untried

Qualified (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to limit the meaning of (as a noun)

    "qualifying the noun adventure in the title of your story with a descriptive adjective would make it more attention-grabbing"

    similar: modified
    related: altered, colored, distorted, misrepresented, misstated, perverted, twisted, warped, narrowed
    near: broadened, expanded, widened

  2. to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function

    "raising five children has qualified her to be an advice columnist on parenting"

    similar: equipped, fitted, prepared, readied, seasoned, trained
    related: accustomed, adapted, adjusted, conditioned, groomed, habituated, shaped, tailored, authorized, entitled, empowered, enabled, educated, indoctrinated, instructed, schooled, taught, tutored

  3. to give a right to

    "this coupon qualifies the bearer for an extra 15% off the discounted price"

    similar: authorized, entitled, privileged
    related: empowered, enabled, enfranchised, licensed, approved, endorsed, allowed, let, permitted, accredited, certificated, certified, chartered (British), ratified, legitimized, sanctioned, validated, warranted, reaccredited, reapproved, recertified, rechartered, revalidated
    opposite: disqualified
    near: disabled, disempowered, disenfranchised, decertified, disallowed, forbade, proscribed, delegitimized, invalidated, nullified

  4. to give official or legal power to

    "passing the state bar exam will qualify you to practice law"

    similar: accredited, authorized, certified, chartered (British), commissioned, empowered, enabled, invested, licensed, vested, warranted
    related: approved, cleared, credentialed, endorsed, OK'd, sanctioned, affirmed, confirmed, validated, inaugurated, inducted, initiated, installed, instated, swore in, allowed, let, permitted, enfranchised, entitled, privileged
    opposite: disqualified
    near: banned, barred, blocked, constrained, denied, disallowed, disbarred, discouraged, disenfranchised, disfranchised, excluded, held back, hindered, impeded, inhibited, obstructed, prevented, shut out, stopped, enjoined, forbade, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, vetoed

Related Entry: Qualify (verb)

Qualify is a different word from Qualified. The synonyms below are for qualify, not for qualified.

  1. to limit the meaning of (as a noun)

    "qualifying the noun adventure in the title of your story with a descriptive adjective would make it more attention-grabbing"

    similar: modify
    related: alter, color, distort, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp, narrow
    near: broaden, expand, widen

  2. to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function

    "raising five children has qualified her to be an advice columnist on parenting"

    similar: equip, fit, prepare, ready, season, train
    related: accustom, adapt, adjust, condition, groom, habituate, shape, tailor, authorize, entitle, empower, enable, educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, teach, tutor

  3. to give a right to

    "this coupon qualifies the bearer for an extra 15% off the discounted price"

    similar: authorize, entitle, privilege
    related: empower, enable, enfranchise, license, approve, endorse, allow, let, permit, accredit, certificate, certify, charter (British), ratify, legitimize, sanction, validate, warrant, reaccredit, reapprove, recertify, recharter, revalidate
    opposite: disqualify
    near: disable, disempower, disenfranchise, decertify, disallow, forbid, proscribe, delegitimize, invalidate, nullify

  4. to give official or legal power to

    "passing the state bar exam will qualify you to practice law"

    similar: accredit, authorize, certify, charter (British), commission, empower, enable, invest, license, vest, warrant
    related: approve, clear, credential, endorse, OK, sanction, affirm, confirm, validate, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, swear in, allow, let, permit, enfranchise, entitle, privilege
    opposite: disqualify
    near: ban, bar, block, constrain, deny, disallow, disbar, discourage, disenfranchise, disfranchise, exclude, hinder, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent, shut out, stop, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe, veto

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Qualified

The most common words with a similar meaning to Qualified:

British: chartered
able, capable, competent, equal, fit, good, suitable, on the ball, modified, equipped, fitted, prepared, readied, seasoned, trained, authorized, entitled, privileged, accredited, certified, commissioned, empowered, enabled, invested, licensed, vested, warranted

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Qualified

Words with the opposite meaning of Qualified:

incompetent, inept, poor, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, disqualified

Related Words for Qualified

accomplished, ace, adept, experienced, expert, master, masterful, masterly, practiced, proficient, skilled, skillful, veteran, overqualified, schooled, apt, ready, willing, all-around, protean, versatile, altered, colored, distorted, misrepresented, misstated, perverted, twisted, warped, narrowed

Near Antonyms of Qualified

inexperienced, inexpert, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful, unprepared, unschooled, untrained, beginning, green, new, raw, untested, untried, broadened, expanded, widened, disabled, disempowered, disenfranchised, decertified, disallowed, forbade, proscribed, delegitimized, invalidated, nullified, banned, barred, blocked

Word Forms of Qualified

Derived words: qualifiedly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Qualified

First known use: 1558

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Qualified

Words & Phrases Containing Qualified

qualified immunity

Frequently Asked Questions about Qualified

What does "Qualified" mean?

"Qualified" means fitted (as by training or experience) for a given purpose, competent. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: fitted (as by training or experience) for a given purpose, competent. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Qualified"?

Other words for "Qualified" include able, capable, competent, equal, fit, good, suitable and on the ball. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Qualified" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Qualified"?

There are 98 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Qualified". Common alternatives include able, capable, competent, equal, fit, good, suitable, on the ball, modified and equipped.

What is the opposite of "Qualified"?

Antonyms of "Qualified" include incompetent, inept, poor, unfit, unfitted, unqualified and disqualified. Near antonyms include inexperienced, inexpert, unseasoned and unskilled.

How do you use "Qualified" in a sentence?

Examples of "Qualified" in a sentence: "the candidate has demonstrated that he is amply qualified for the position"; "qualifying the noun adventure in the title of your story with a descriptive adjective would make it more attention-grabbing"; "raising five children has qualified her to be an advice columnist on parenting".

Is "Qualified" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Qualified" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Qualified" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Qualified" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Qualified"?

"Qualified" is pronounced /ˈkwä-lə-ˌfīd/ and divided into syllables as qual·i·fied.