candidate

[ noun kan-di-deyt, -dit; verb kan-di-deyt ]

noun

1. a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.:

   a candidate for governor.

2. a person who is selected by others as a contestant for an office, honor, etc.
3. a person who is deserving of or seems destined for a certain end or fate:

   Such a reckless spender is a candidate for the poorhouse.

4. a student studying for a degree:

   Candidates for the B.A. will have to meet certain minimum requirements.

verb (used without object)

, can·di·dat·ed, can·di·dat·ing.

1. to become a candidate for service as a new minister of a church; preach before a congregation that is seeking a new minister.

candidate

/ -dɪt; ˈkændɪdətʃə; ˈkændɪˌdeɪt; ˈkændɪdəsɪ /

noun

1. a person seeking or nominated for election to a position of authority or honour or selection for a job, promotion, etc
2. a person taking an examination or test
3. a person or thing regarded as suitable or likely for a particular fate or position

   this wine is a candidate for his cellar

Derived Forms

• candidacy, noun

Other Words From

• can·di·da·cy [kan, -di-d, uh, -see], noun
• pre·can·di·da·ture noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of candidate¹

First recorded in 1605–15, candidate is from the Latin word candidātus “clothed in white” (adective), “candidate for office” (noun, in reference to the white togas worn by those seeking office); candid, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of candidate¹

C17: from Latin candidātus clothed in white (because in ancient Rome a candidate wore a white toga), from candidus white

Example Sentences

In a post to X on Thursday, Trump said he was "thrilled" to nominate the anti-vaccine activist and former presidential candidate to the post.

From Salon

In both his character and capacity to carry out justice, Gaetz is the opposite of an appropriate candidate to lead the Department of Justice.

From Los Angeles Times

The former independent presidential candidate, who is slated to secure a top health role in Trump’s administration, appeared on Tuesday’s episode of “The Joe Polish Show” podcast, where he called Trump’s diet “poison.”

From Salon

A week before the general elections, worshipers at the St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church in Bell Gardens were listening to the parish announcements when Father Nabor Rios introduced a political candidate.

From Los Angeles Times

The Johnson Amendment — named after sponsor Lyndon B. Johnson, who was a Democratic senator from Texas at the time — states that all nonprofit organizations are “absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for elective public office,” according to the Internal Revenue Service.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• applicant
• aspirant
• bidder
• competitor
• contender
• contestant
• nominee
• successor