/ ˌkwɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃn; NAmE ˌkwɑːl-/ noun
1.
[ C , usually pl. ] ( BrE ) an exam that you have passed or a course of study that you have successfully completed :
academic / educational / professional / vocational qualifications
a nursing / teaching, etc. qualification
He left school with no formal qualifications .
to acquire / gain / get / obtain / have / hold qualifications
In this job, experience counts for more than paper qualifications .
2.
[ C ] a skill or type of experience that you need for a particular job or activity :
Previous teaching experience is a necessary qualification for this job.
3.
[ C , U ] information that you add to a statement to limit the effect that it has or the way it is applied
SYN proviso :
I accept his theories, but not without certain qualifications.
The plan was approved without qualification.
4.
[ U ] the fact of passing an exam, completing a course of training or reaching the standard necessary to do a job or take part in a competition :
Nurses in training should be given a guarantee of employment following qualification.
A victory in this game will earn them qualification for the World Cup.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin qualificatio(n-) , from the verb qualificare , from Latin qualis of what kind, of such a kind. (see qualify ).