candidacy

American

[kan-di-duh-see] / ˈkæn dɪ də si /

especially British, candidature

noun

the fact or state of running for office or of seeking a position, title, degree, etc..

She has announced her candidacy for the 51st seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Other Word Forms

precandidacy noun

Etymology

Origin of candidacy

candid(ate) ( def. ) + -acy ( def. )

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.

No one needed his blessing to enter the race, or his backing to sustain their candidacy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Ingerson posted on social media that there had been a "two-year long campaign of bullying, lies, rumours and smears designed to stop my candidacy".

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, gave at least $5 million to Illinois Future PAC, which promoted Stratton’s candidacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Right around the same time, Montana U.S. attorney and former state budget official Kurt Alme filed for his candidacy and promptly received the endorsement of Daines, Trump, Gov. Greg Gianforte, and Sen. Tim Sheehy.

From Slate • Mar. 7, 2026

About a month earlier, Hillary Clinton had declared her own candidacy, brimming with confidence.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023