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.

His soaring popularity has fueled rumors that he'll be named as a potential candidate for President Claudia Sheinbaum's ruling Morena party to succeed her in the 2030 election.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

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

A Reform UK candidate, who is a doctor, sprung into action to make sure the Lib Dem candidate was okay when he fell about 4am at the Canons Leisure Centre in Mitcham.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

And in 1880, a battle broke out over who would be the Republican Party's presidential candidate.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

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!