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.

Their findings, published in Stem Cell Reports, point to glycyrrhizin, a natural compound found in black licorice, as a promising candidate for reducing intestinal inflammation and preventing cell death.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

“It’s like: ‘We need to figure out a candidate who can win!’

From Slate • May 9, 2026

There was some drama in the early hours of Friday morning at the Merton count in London, when a Liberal Democrat candidate wearing a bright yellow tie collapsed.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

What others saw in her she never saw in herself, understanding that she was an unlikely candidate for Hollywood stardom.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Everybody looked up to her, so when she made Emily her candidate too, Emily had a chance.

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord

Vocabulary lists containing candidate

Election Lingo

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

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!