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.

While no gubernatorial candidate reached the necessary level of support to earn the endorsement at the February gathering, Swalwell had the largest share with 24%.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

He had received endorsements from top Democrats, including California Sen. Adam Schiff and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, his close friend and a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Reform has also selected a candidate who has already demonstrated they have support in the area - Conrad Ritchie took 25.9% of first-preference votes in a council by-election in Fraserburgh in November 2024.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

The valuation is incredibly cheap relative to the franchise—the stock trades at a single-digit earnings multiple—and Beacon itself would be a good acquisition candidate.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

If for some reason the chosen candidate couldn't go into space, Irina would take her place.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson

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!