candidate

American  

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

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.

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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  

/ -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

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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

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

"Discoveries like this are only possible because of investment into long-term multi-decadal research programs and international collaboration," Griffith University Phd Candidate and co-author Stephanie Stack said.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

Candidate Andrew Kim, an attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“Everyone wants to draw from a limited pool,” says Michael Zhang, CEO of Candidate Labs, a recruiting firm that has placed talent at startups including Cursor and Vercel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Candidate one is elected, but then is found to have broken Senedd rules in a way that is serious enough for the standards committee to recommend a recall process.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2025

He remained with the Candidate, sitting beside him next to the bed until the woman began to breathe normally and was able to get her tongue back in her mouth.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

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