aspirant

[ uh-spahyuhr-uhnt, as-per-uhnt ]

noun

1. a person who aspires, as one who seeks or desires a career, advancement, status, etc.:

   The aspirants for foundation grants had yet to prove themselves.

adjective

1. aspiring or seeking to attain something important or of value.

aspirant

/ ˈæspɪrənt; əˈspaɪərənt /

noun

1. a person who aspires, as to a high position

adjective

1. aspiring or striving

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspirant¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from French or directly from Latin aspīrant- (stem of aspīrāns, present participle of aspīrāre ); aspire, -ant

Example Sentences

As they appear to be peaking at the exact right time, the Jays are not in the worst spot among wild-card aspirants.

From FiveThirtyEight

Green cards aspirants in the US as well as immigrant visa applicants applying at US embassies and consulates abroad have to meet the criteria.

From Quartz

Then we asked experts to weigh in on why they work and how you can take care of your brain while you train—whether you’re a gold-medal aspirant or a weekend warrior.

From Outside Online

It was as though the track gods recognized the futility of even trying to fill Bolt’s shoes and decided to bestow the title of “World’s Fastest Human” on an anonymous aspirant.

From Outside Online

He interrogated many of the 17 GOP aspirants in 2016 on their support for Israel.

From Washington Post

If Christie was not a presidential aspirant with an anger-management problem, the episode might not even make the list.

From The Daily Beast

Turkey, a NATO member and European Union aspirant, has a long history of jailing journalists and dissenters.

From The Daily Beast

All of this should make any presidential aspirant who would wear his religion on his sleeve step back and take notice.

From The Daily Beast

Now as a presidential aspirant, Sayyaf will have to show a more constructive and moderate side.

From The Daily Beast

This is where the votes are and where aspirant politicians have to aim much of their agenda.

From The Daily Beast

Elder Brewster especially entreated for him, though this strange pulpit aspirant had hoped to supplant him.

From Project Gutenberg

I bring this general indictment in order that the eyes of the aspirant may be opened to the opportunities which await her.

From Project Gutenberg

Roscoe was an excellent guide to the young aspirant, pointing to the Greeks as the only examples for a sculptor.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Campbell is a stanch democrat and is commendably interested in public affairs, although not an aspirant for office.

From Project Gutenberg

A political aspirant who is forced to decide between his manager and his wife has need of all the philosophy at his command.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• applicant
• candidate
• contestant