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.

That said, Marvell isn’t the only sizable IT candidate.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

WFP leadership, however, in a rare move contrary to party membership, decided not to endorse any candidate in the race.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

Despite this, since the election Roberts has been recruited as a special adviser to Thomas, who had replaced Roberts as Reform's second candidate in the same constituency.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Marvell’s $254.38 billion market cap makes it a top candidate for S&P 500 inclusion, with the next rebalancing due this month.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

A sunburnt, overgrown candidate for confirmation gazes at me in astonishment.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

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!