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Compatible vs Eligible - What's the difference?

compatible | eligible |

As adjectives the difference between compatible and eligible

is that compatible is capable of easy interaction while eligible is suitable; meeting the conditions; worthy of being chosen; allowed to do something.

As nouns the difference between compatible and eligible

is that compatible is something that is compatible with something else while eligible is one who is eligible.

compatible

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Capable of easy interaction.
  • Able to get along well.
  • Consistent; congruous.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=1 citation , passage=She was like a Beardsley Salome , he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.}}

    Antonyms

    * incompatible

    Derived terms

    * compatibility

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that is compatible with something else.
  • a computer company that sells IBM compatibles

    eligible

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Suitable; meeting the conditions; worthy of being chosen; allowed to do something.
  • Usage notes

    Used in the phrase (eligible bachelor) to mean “desirable male”, the corresponding term for a woman is nubile.

    Synonyms

    * qualified

    Antonyms

    * ineligible * unqualified

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who is eligible.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2007, date=October 3, author=Diane Ravitch, title=Get Congress Out of the Classroom, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=Federal agencies report that only about 1 percent of eligible students take advantage of switching schools and fewer than 20 percent of eligibles receive extra tutoring.}}