postulant

American  

[pos-chuh-luhnt] / ˈpɒs tʃə lənt /

noun

1. a candidate, especially for admission into a religious order.

2. a person who asks or applies for something.

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postulant British  

/ ˈpɒstjʊlənt /

noun

1. a person who makes a request or application, esp a candidate for admission to a religious order

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Other Word Forms

• postulancy noun
• postulantship noun

Etymology

Origin of postulant

1750–60; < French < Latin postulant- (stem of postulāns ), present participle of postulāre to ask for, claim, require

Example Sentences

While a postulant at the convent, she began to have seizures.

From Washington Times • May 28, 2019

This revival of the musical about a postulant at an Austrian abbey who becomes a governess also is back.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2016

Her sense of vocation grew only gradually, strengthened by the years spent with the community, first as a novice and then as a postulant, or candidate to join the religious order.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 13, 2015

Born in 1905 and soon orphaned, the real Maria entered a convent as a postulant and was assigned to tutor the family of Captain von Trapp, a widower more than twice her age.

From Time • Mar. 2, 2015

“I know she’s too young to be a postulant, but there’s got to be a convent somewhere that she could go to.”

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Related Words

• beginner
• learner
• neophyte
• newcomer
• pupil
• trainee