Pronunciation: /ˈkwɒlɪfʌɪ/
verb (qualifies, qualifying, qualified)
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1 [no object] be entitled to a particular benefit or privilege by fulfilling a necessary condition: a pensioner who does not qualify for income support
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become eligible for a competition or its final rounds, by reaching a certain standard or defeating a competitor: England are in danger of failing to qualify
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be or make properly entitled to be classed in a particular way: [no object]: he qualifies as a genuine political refugee
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2 [no object] become officially recognized as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity, typically by undertaking a course and passing examinations: the training necessary to qualify as a solicitor I’ve only just qualified
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[with object] officially recognize or establish (someone) as a practitioner of a particular profession or activity: the courses qualify you as an instructor of the sport
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[with object and infinitive] make (someone) competent or knowledgeable enough to do something: I’m not qualified to write on the subject
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3 [with object] make (a statement or assertion) less absolute; add reservations to: she felt obliged to qualify her first short answer
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archaic make (something) less severe or extreme: his sincere piety, his large heart always qualify his errors
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archaic alter the strength or flavour of (something, especially a liquid): he qualified his mug of water with a plentiful infusion of the liquor
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4 [with object] Grammar (of a word or phrase) attribute a quality to (another word, especially a preceding noun).
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(qualify something as) archaic attribute a specified quality to something; describe something as: the propositions have been qualified as heretical
