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.

If no candidate wins a majority in the primary, the top two vote-getters will face off in the Nov. 3 general election.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Six defendants, including then-congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, were indicted on felony charges in October.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The Green Party intend to make a decision on a replacement candidate on Monday after their initial choice withdrew hours after he was announced.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

This system was in place for police and crime commissioners and mayors until 2022, when it was switched to FPTP, under which there is one round and the candidate with the most votes wins.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

It was no ordinary Sunday morning when presidential candidate Barack Obama stepped to the podium at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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!