noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of contestant
From French, dating back to 1655–65; see origin at contest, -ant
Explanation
A contestant is someone who competes in a game or contest. Contestants in many beauty competitions need to demonstrate a talent, like singing or dancing, as well as look pretty. If you're a contestant on a TV game show, you might have to answer trivia questions, and if you're a debate contestant, you need to argue your case clearly. You can also be a contestant in a sporting competition or on a reality show. Contestant comes from the verb contest, from the French contester, "oppose," which has a Latin root, contestari, "to bring action."
Vocabulary lists containing contestant
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Out of My Mind
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Alex Trebek (1940–2020) Tribute List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The rift with his family members was made public in 2016 when younger brother Jordan Rodgers was a contestant on “The Bachlorette.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Raj Bhakta, a former “Apprentice” contestant, bought the land at a 77% discount to its appraised value shortly after the school closed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Not for nothing has Grant been a contestant 13 times on the BBC's Mastermind game show, thanks in part to his prolific knowledge of the UK capital.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
The match ends after three rounds, or when one contestant falls over and fails to rise for a referee 10-count.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
“Let’s hear it for contestant number eight!” the emcee announces for a second time.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
For Tareq Ferguson, a long-time Love Island viewer and TikTok commentator with more than 50,000 followers, one of the biggest changes in recent series has been watching male contestants become more passive.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Olandria and Vansteenberghe were among a handful of day-one contestants who advanced to the competition’s final episode.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
In 2025, models made by the likes of Google and OpenAI reached gold-level scores for the first time -- but could not match the abilities of five human contestants who got 100 percent.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
All Stars is a spin-off of the hit dating show, which sees past contestants return for a second chance at finding love in the villa.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
I scan the panel of teachers responsible for choosing the contestants.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
