To disqualify means to remove someone from a competition, contest, or position because they broke a rule or failed to meet a requirement. When an athlete gets disqualified from a race, they can no longer compete or win, usually because they cheated, started too early, or violated the rules in some way. A student might be disqualified from a spelling bee for looking at notes during the competition.

The word comes up in sports frequently. A swimmer who makes a false start gets disqualified. A runner who steps out of their lane gets disqualified. Once you're disqualified, you're out, even if you would have won otherwise.

You can also be disqualified without meaning to. If you forget to turn in a permission slip for a field trip, that might disqualify you from going. If someone applies for a job but doesn't have the required license, that disqualifies them from consideration.

Sometimes people use disqualify more loosely to mean “rule out” or “make unsuitable.” A student might say that hating the outdoors disqualifies them from wanting to be a park ranger. The core idea remains the same: something prevents you from participating or being considered.