contestant

[ kuhn-tes-tuhnt ]

noun

1. a person who takes part in a contest or competition.
2. a person who contests the results of an election.
3. Law. the party who, in proceedings in the probate court, contests the validity of a will.

contestant

/ kənˈtɛstənt /

noun

1. a person who takes part in a contest; competitor

Other Words From

• uncon·testant noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contestant¹

From French, dating back to 1655–65; contest, -ant

Example Sentences

Isaacson said that contestants would make a video about their business and why they should be sent to space and that the winner would be announced by an independent panel of judges.

From Washington Post

She appeared in Shakespearean comedy and Eugene O’Neill melodrama on Broadway in the 1950s, was a television mainstay from the dawn of the medium and, at 82, became the oldest female contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.”

From Washington Post

I also think as a 17-year-old, I wasn’t really thinking about what the other contestants were thinking about.

From Ozy

Women are too often missing from business school case studies and even as contestants on Shark Tank.

From Fortune

The Protein Structure Prediction Center releases batches of target proteins, and contestants then submit their structure predictions for evaluation.

From Fortune

Any Miss America contestant who betrays herself to be a sexually autonomous being will be quickly sent packing.

From The Daily Beast

That contestant also happens to be Cuba Gooding, Jr., Oscar-winner for Jerry Maguire and major hockey fan.

From The Daily Beast

They are told that Miss America has evolved, but shown a contestant waxing rhapsodic about Barbie.

From The Daily Beast

Similarly, the video selections for each contestant were wildly unequal, for no apparent reason.

From The Daily Beast

Each contestant sings and/or dances, as the crowd cheers wholeheartedly.

From The Daily Beast

No contestant except the first leaves his place until tagged by the returning contestant.

From Project Gutenberg

I was not a contestant, but, notwithstanding, had occasion to use my weapon.

From Project Gutenberg

If the water is spilled over or the candle blows out, the contestant is out of the race.

From Project Gutenberg

An equal number of chalk marks are made upon the floor in front of each contestant.

From Project Gutenberg

Each contestant is given a row and is requested to try distances before being blindfolded.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aspirant
• candidate
• challenger
• contender
• entrant
• participant