applicant

American  

[ap-li-kuhnt] / ˈæp lɪ kənt /

noun

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

   an applicant for a position.

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applicant British  

/ ˈæplɪkənt /

noun

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

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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."

Example Sentences

The result from this example: On average, each majority employee forms five social connections—four with majority applicants and one with a minority applicant.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

During the meeting, Elizabeth Peterson-Gower, a land use consultant representing the owner and applicant Dome Center LLC, was asked if there was a timeline for reopening the theaters.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

The successful applicant will be involved throughout England's player identification structure.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

AfghanEvac and residents at the camp said authorities offer $4,500 per main applicant and $1,200 per dependent to return.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

And if the applicant didn’t own any land, the city would rent ground on Michigan Avenue for temporary structures.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

• aspirant
• candidate
• claimant
• seeker