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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.

A former talk show host and legislator, Cheng's victory in the KMT chairperson elections last year stunned observers and many in her party, who had considered her the dark-horse candidate.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Shareholders shouldn’t vote for the two other slates put forward, including the one that includes Lovaglio CEO candidate, as it isn’t in their interest, it says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

This makes it a promising candidate for future treatments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

In the recent poll, the candidate with the second-most support among Latinos was Republican candidate Spencer Pratt, with 9% of Latino voters saying they would back the reality TV star-turned-politician.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

I’d never feel as passionately about another candidate as I did about my own husband, which made campaigning for others sometimes difficult for me.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.