aspirant

[uh-spahyuhr-uhnt, as-per-uhnt]

noun

1. a person who aspires, as one who seeks or desires a career, advancement, status, etc..

   The aspirants for foundation grants had yet to prove themselves.

adjective

1. aspiring or seeking to attain something important or of value.

aspirant

/ ˈæspɪrənt, əˈspaɪərənt /

noun

1. a person who aspires, as to a high position

adjective

1. aspiring or striving

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspirant¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from French or directly from Latin aspīrant- (stem of aspīrāns, present participle of aspīrāre ); aspire, -ant

Example Sentences

Kelly also called former Vice President Kamala Harris “an unqualified political aspirant” because, she baselessly claimed, Harris “actually did sleep her way into and upwards in California politics.”

Read more on Salon

The piece suggests that even progressive Democrats who publicly support female candidates may harbor “secret sexism that comes out in the privacy of the voting booth,” creating a hidden barrier for female presidential aspirants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Both were apparently among thousands of political asylum aspirants who entered the United States from Mexico legally via an immigration process scrapped by the Trump administration.

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Soon after, Lynch came across her headshot while preparing “Mulholland Drive,” convinced she would be perfect for Betty, a fresh-faced aspirant just arrived in the City of Angels, ready to run down her acting fantasies.

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"Aren't they hilarious?" a party veteran jokes, gently mocking the ambition of those involved, suspicious that the leadership may have gently encouraged a few aspirant MPs to make their case vigorously and loudly.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• applicant 
• candidate 
• contestant