candidate

[ noun kan-di-deyt, -dit; verb kan-di-deyt ]

noun

1. a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.:

   a candidate for governor.

2. a person who is selected by others as a contestant for an office, honor, etc.
3. a person who is deserving of or seems destined for a certain end or fate:

   Such a reckless spender is a candidate for the poorhouse.

4. a student studying for a degree:

   Candidates for the B.A. will have to meet certain minimum requirements.

verb (used without object)

, can·di·dat·ed, can·di·dat·ing.

1. to become a candidate for service as a new minister of a church; preach before a congregation that is seeking a new minister.

candidate

/ ˈkændɪˌdeɪt; ˈkændɪdətʃə; -dɪt; ˈkændɪdəsɪ /

noun

1. a person seeking or nominated for election to a position of authority or honour or selection for a job, promotion, etc
2. a person taking an examination or test
3. a person or thing regarded as suitable or likely for a particular fate or position

   this wine is a candidate for his cellar

Derived Forms

• candidacy, noun

Other Words From

• can·di·da·cy [kan, -di-d, uh, -see], noun
• pre·can·di·da·ture noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of candidate¹

First recorded in 1605–15, candidate is from the Latin word candidātus “clothed in white” (adective), “candidate for office” (noun, in reference to the white togas worn by those seeking office); candid, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of candidate¹

C17: from Latin candidātus clothed in white (because in ancient Rome a candidate wore a white toga), from candidus white

Example Sentences

The Democrats have also tried to steer that discontent in their direction — especially Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a long-time registered Independent, who was for a time a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

From Freakonomics

The announcement that Fraser would indeed attain the long-elusive corner office of a big Wall Street bank was widely celebrated—and kicked off widespread speculation about the most likely next candidates to follow her lead.

From Fortune

Even that proposal was one that Biden, as a candidate who doesn’t hold elective office, obviously had no power to actually implement.

From Washington Post

Biden holds a similar 22-point advantage on which candidate is more honest and trustworthy, 56 percent to 34 percent.

From Washington Post

Sinopharm has tested both of these vaccines in the UAE, but it is unclear if the UAE granted emergency approval to one or both candidates.

From Fortune

Already, 10 Republicans have declared they will vote for an alternative candidate and more seemed poised to join.

From The Daily Beast

First, they allow Paul to siphon off attention from whichever potential candidate is making news.

From The Daily Beast

A Republican candidate hoping to win red state support could find a worse team to root for than one from Dallas.

From The Daily Beast

Having regional appeal is one thing; simply being a regional candidate is another.

From The Daily Beast

But he should not be judged by his wavering as a presidential candidate.

From The Daily Beast

The Colonel left, and in a few days the election coming off, each candidate made his appearance at the critical German polls.

From Project Gutenberg

In admitting a member, if no form of election has been prescribed, each candidate must be elected separately.

From Project Gutenberg

This was the point of compass revealed by the astrologer as most favourable to the young candidate for manly honours.

From Project Gutenberg

The Liberal candidate wanted to address the colliers in one of the Lanarkshire towns; but his meeting was very poorly attended.

From Project Gutenberg

Though he frankly acknowledged that he preferred the Electoral Prince to any other candidate, he professed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• applicant
• aspirant
• bidder
• competitor
• contender
• contestant
• nominee
• successor

More About Candidate

What does candidate mean?

Candidate most commonly means someone who’s seeking to be elected, hired, or appointed to a position, especially a political office or job.

The word candidate most commonly refers to a politician seeking election or a person who has applied for a job. But it can be used in several other ways to refer to someone or something under consideration for some kind of treatment or status.

Example: We have more than 100 applicants, but almost none of them are qualified candidates for this job.

Where does candidate come from?

The word candidate comes from the Latin candidātus, meaning “clothed in white”—a reference to the fact that ancient Roman political candidates often wore white togas (or robes). The related word candid, meaning “outspoken or sincere,” comes from the Latin candidus, meaning “shining white.” The first recorded use of candidate in English comes from the 1600s.

Candidate has been used since then to refer to politicians running for office. Later, candidate began to be used in relation to academics, referring to a student pursuing a particular degree, such as a Ph.D. candidate. The word is commonly used today to mean someone who has applied for a job. Candidate can refer to any applicant for a job, but it is often specifically used for one who is seriously being considered for it.

Candidate can also be used in a more general way to refer to any person being considered for something, as in candidate for surgery (a person who may qualify to undergo a procedure) or candidate for promotion. But candidate isn’t only used for people—things can be candidates, too. For example, a particular expense might be considered a candidate for a budget cut, or a wine may be a candidate for a prize.

The word candidate is often used in the context of official decisions, but it doesn’t have to be. You could say that a movie is a candidate for your top 10 list, or you could tease your friend by saying they’re a candidate for Blockhead of the Year. (If we’re being candid, that seems like what most politicians are running for, too.)

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of candidate?

• candidacy (noun)
• candidateship (noun, primarily British)
• candidature (noun, primarily British)
• precandidacy (noun)
• precanditure (noun)

What are some synonyms for candidate?

• applicant
• aspirant
• contender

What are some words that share a root or word element with candidate? 

• candid
• write-in candidate

What are some words that often get used in discussing candidate?

 

• politician
• campaign
• application
• qualified
• office
• employee
• hire
• finalist

What are some words candidate may be commonly confused with?

 

• nominee

 

How is candidate used in real life?

Candidate is most often used in the context of running for political office or applying for a job.

Ask yourself this question. Which of the candidates running for President, win or lose, is going to keep fighting for you and the exact same issues and policy goals they are running on right now?

— Bad John Brown (@BadJohnBrown) October 8, 2019

Take-home design challenges are not a level playing field to evaluate job candidates in design. They are causing more challenges with hiring diverse candidates & tend to discourage highly qualified talent from continuing the process. Stop creating gates, start removing barriers.

— Nick Finck (@nickf) February 22, 2020

What’s happened to Paul George, last year he’s a MVP candidate now he can’t stay consistent..

— 𝓚𝓪𝓷𝓮 💜💛 (@LALPrime) February 25, 2020

 

 

Try using candidate!

Which of the following words can be a synonym for candidate?

A. associate
B. applicant
C. consideration
D. campaign