Definitions

candidate

[kan-di-deyt, -dit, kan-di-deyt] / ˈkæn dɪˌdeɪt, -dɪt, ˈkæn dɪˌdeɪt /

NOUN

person desiring political office, job

Synonyms

STRONGEST

applicant aspirant bidder competitor contender contestant nominee successor

STRONG

claimant entrant hopeful petitioner possibility pothunter runner seeker stumper suitor write-in

WEAK

dark horse favorite son handshaker job-hunter office seeker possible choice solicitant whistle-stopper

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori has been declared the winner of Peru's tight presidential election, nearly a month after the vote took place.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026

For instance, individuals can currently donate up to only $3,500 to a given federal candidate.

From Salon • Jul. 2, 2026

Several high-profile names were reportedly under consideration, including Jesse Marsch, who is now coaching the Canadian team and was widely seen as a strong candidate.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

Rutinel, a young Latino candidate and former Army Corps of Engineers economist, has argued that Democrats should focus relentlessly on the cost of living and the struggles of working families.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

It looked less and less likely that one of the three men could win, and some delegates began looking for a compromise candidate.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Vocabulary lists containing candidate

Election Lingo

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Electoral Elocution: The Verbiage of Voting

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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!