applicant
Americannoun
-
applicants
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of applicant
First recorded in 1475–85, applicant is from the Latin word applicant- (stem of applicāns applying, present participle of applicāre ). See apply, -ant
Explanation
An applicant is someone who signs up or applies for something. A job applicant for example, often fills out a form and then interviews for the position she hopes to get. When you submit your college application to a school you'd like to attend, you are an applicant to that school. Other kinds of applicants are job candidates and scholarship hopefuls. To apply is to put in for or request entry to something, and the root of both apply and applicant is the Old French aploiier, "apply, use, or attach," from the Latin applicare, "attach to, join, or connect."
Vocabulary lists containing applicant
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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:
He added: "I am a genuine applicant, not a benefits cheat and I need a blue badge."
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Having lived in Japan for a decade, permanent residency applicant Chono said he saw both sides of the debate but that the country needed young people "to support its future".
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
"The information which was considered was also materially disadvantageous to the applicant."
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Most cases are dismissed due to procedural issues, such as the applicant failing to appear in court or submit the proper paperwork on time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
“It makes perfect sense. The threat of gleaning will ensure that the best applicant comes out on top.”
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
But Moody says some applicants still try to bend the rules, particularly in video interviews.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
The pool of applicants for every opening has shrunk, said Matt Schron, Jack’s son and the company’s general manager.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
It said Latino applicants had about two times the odds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The spouses and children of applicants can also secure citizenship, in exchange for a contribution of $100,000 to the Treasury, or $25,000 if they are under 18 years of age.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
The police photographed applicants standing in the courthouse line, and when local newspapers published the photos, some people lost their jobs.
From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
