candidate

American  

[kan-di-dayt, -dit, kan-di-dayt] / ˈkæn dɪˌdeɪt, -dɪt, ˈkæn dɪˌdeɪt /

noun

• candidates
  plural

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)

candidated, candidating

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 British  

/ ˈkændɪˌdeɪt, -dɪt /

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

---

Usage

What does candidate mean? Candidate most commonly means someone who’s seeking to be elected, hired, or appointed to a position, especially a political office or job. The word candidate most commonly refers to a politician seeking election or a person who has applied for a job. But it can be used in several other ways to refer to someone or something under consideration for some kind of treatment or status. Example: We have more than 100 applicants, but almost none of them are qualified candidates for this job.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• candidacy
  noun
• precandidature
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• candidates
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of candidate

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); see candid, -ate ¹

---

Explanation

A candidate is someone running for political office — or anyone being considered for a position or opportunity of some sort. When you hear about candidates, it's usually in discussions of politics. People are always wondering, "Who will be the candidates in the next Presidential election?" Every President, and every office-holder, was once a candidate. When you're a candidate, you raise money, hold rallies, make campaign promises, and do everything you can to win. You can also say someone is a candidate for a job, prize, and other things. Someone could jokingly say, "He's a candidate to be my next husband."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

candidate candidates candidating

Meanwhile, the Texas Democrat has proven to be a historically successful fundraiser, amassing more than $140m in donations over the course of his campaign and setting a three-month fundraising record for a Senate candidate.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

In this case, however, the scientists may already have a promising candidate.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

In late October, AFP's fact-checkers debunked a likely AI-altered clip that purported to show a former student of Texas Senate candidate James Talarico accusing him of sexual misconduct.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

As Perez sees it, Bass has attempted to position herself as the candidate of the people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

It looked less and less likely that one of the three men could win, and some delegates began looking for a compromise candidate.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Then there are candidates who have somehow managed to stay dry amid a deluge of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

In a recent survey by the nonpartisan National Conference on Citizenship, two in five Americans said they had used AI tools to search for election information, including candidates or ballot measures.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

“The folks who log on can ask about specific races, voting trends, candidates, when polls close and a grid of the balance of power as it’s populating.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

For now, the blood test offers researchers a way to identify higher-risk individuals who may be suitable candidates for prevention studies.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Few people would be surprised at the disqualification of those notoriously ferocious candidates.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

After a little rest and some candidating for a church, I took a small parish at Highland Falls, about a mile from West Point, New York, entering on my labors in January, 1866.

From Taken Alive by Edward Payson Roe

"The minister who is candidating can't be too careful what text he chooses," said Miss Cornelia solemnly.

From Rainbow Valley by L. M. (Lucy Maud) Montgomery

I don't believe in candidating, and I can't be accessory to it.

From Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish. by Lyman Abbott

I believe the whole church is satisfied with the result of our peculiar method of candidating.

From Laicus; Or, the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish. by Lyman Abbott

The elder was filling the vacant pulpit that day by mere chance, as he told me; but I guess he was really candidating a little after all.

From Vandemark's Folly by Herbert Quick

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---