English▸ noun informal [mass noun] the qualifying stage of a sporting event, especially in motorsports; qualification:
I didn't get a very good lap in qualy and this made it very difficult for me in the race.
▪ (qualies) Tennis the qualifying rounds of a tournament:
he made it into qualies on the strength of his singles ranking.
– ORIGIN 1950s (originally with reference to a qualifying examination for Scottish secondary schools): abbreviation.