applicant

[ap-li-kuhnt]

noun

1. a person who applies for or requests something; a candidate.

   an applicant for a position.

applicant

/ ˈæplɪkənt /

noun

1. a person who applies, as for a job, grant, support, etc; candidate

Word History and Origins

Origin of applicant¹

First recorded in 1475–85, applicant is from the Latin word applicant- (stem of applicāns applying, present participle of applicāre ). See apply, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of applicant¹

C15: from Latin applicāns, from applicāre to _apply

Example Sentences

The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in 2023, but some conservatives have said they suspect schools are using proxies like applicant essays to covertly boost diversity.

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Prospective employers sometimes see applicants who’ve been out of work for a while as tainted, assuming they would have been hired sooner if they were good candidates.

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Financial institutions were told to provide the option to reopen their accounts and find ways to re-engage with past applicants that they rejected.

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In addition to the new fee, which is expected to affect first-time applicants from next year, the administration is also planning to rework the lottery to give greater weighting to higher-paid applicants.

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But getting selected for one is tough, as thousands of applicants from all over the country compete for a single vacancy.

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Related Words

• aspirant 
• candidate 
• claimant 
• seeker