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.

After a week of counting ballots from the 2 June primary race, the British-born candidate secured his slot to move ahead in the election, edging out billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, a Democrat.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Platner's supporters argue that his flaws are part of a broader redemption story and that voters are willing to accept an imperfect candidate who feels authentic.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

We need to be assured with specific examples of how a candidate will work to fix America for us: income disparity, job availability, affordability of living and retirement planning.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Given all the doubts around Adobe, it’s perhaps surprising that the company will likely go with an internal candidate to replace Narayen.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 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!