applicant

American  

[ap-li-kuhnt] / ˈæp lɪ kənt /

noun

1. a person who applies for or requests something; a candidate.

   an applicant for a position.

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applicant British  

/ ˈæplɪkənt /

noun

1. a person who applies, as for a job, grant, support, etc; candidate

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Etymology

Origin of applicant

First recorded in 1475–85, applicant is from the Latin word applicant- (stem of applicāns applying, present participle of applicāre ). See apply, -ant

Example Sentences

The request from Dhillon to the schools asks for 46 categories of applicant information for incoming classes starting in 2019.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Those pictures require patience, time, and pain to conjure on the part of the applicant.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

By far the biggest factor in admission, however, is whether an applicant has matriculated from another magnet school and how long an applicant has been on the waiting list for a magnet school.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026

But the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the agency that administers immigration courts, can label a case abandoned if the applicant fails to show up for a hearing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

And if the applicant didn’t own any land, the city would rent ground on Michigan Avenue for temporary structures.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

• aspirant
• candidate
• claimant
• seeker