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.

Burnham's supporters have been quick to badge him a "unity" candidate.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Colombia’s rally also has to do with its upcoming elections External link, and investors’ anticipation that a more markets-forward candidate might win.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Following the CNN interview, Steyer’s campaign denied that the candidate was involved with the leak.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Then, the contest would go to a vote among some 300,000 Labour members and trade union representatives to choose a winner between Starmer and any other candidate who is nominated for the top job.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

It was a combination of his relentless stamina, survival skills, and mathematical mind that made him the perfect candidate to join one of Brazil’s boldest and most brutal projects—building the telegraph network.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

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!