'ineligible' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ineligibilis,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'eligibilis' meant 'fit to be chosen.'

'ineligibilis' transformed into the French word 'ineligible,' and eventually became the modern English word 'ineligible' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'not fit to be chosen,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.