candidacy

American  

[kan-di-duh-see] / ˈkæn dɪ də si /

especially British, candidature

noun

• candidacies
  plural

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precandidacy
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• candidacies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of candidacy

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

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Explanation

Candidacy is the campaign journey someone undertakes to be elected to a position, like running for class president or trying out for a spot on the student council. If you were to officially declare that you were running for president or any other elected position, that is the start of your candidacy. This involves promoting your ideas, convincing others to vote for you, and participating in debates or discussions. Candidacy is a vital part of democratic processes, allowing people to present their qualifications and vision. Whether in school elections or national politics, candidacy is about showing why you’re the best person for the job.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

candidacy candidacies

Polymarket told AFP that bets placed on events via the platform constitute "neither polls nor official projections, nor expressions of support for any candidacy."

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

That he shares his name with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini - "two of the most well-known figures of 20th-Century European totalitarian regimes" - has made his candidacy a "striking event", local outlet Peru21 reported.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

She projects a likeable persona, but her candidacy inspires no one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Flavio’s candidacy has been presented as a less extreme and more socially normative version of his father’s policies, according to Dorson.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

But it was in the pages of the New York Herald, on April 2, 1870, that Woodhull announced her candidacy for president of the United States.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Their candidacies are proof of the impact statewide candidates can have on down-ballot races, even if they don’t win, Goodwin said.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

All that remains in the offing, however, as none of the major prospects have formally declared their candidacies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

His rapid ascension is proof that in an era of intense load management, increasingly specialized bullpens and near-ubiquitious arm injuries, a massive shift is underway in how voters evaluate pitchers’ candidacies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 17, 2026

Finance ministers from the 20 countries sharing the single currency had until Friday to submit their candidacies for the job.

From Barron's ● Nov. 28, 2025

It seemed hardly more than one of the "favorite son" candidacies which every canvass knows in plenty.

From The Negro and the Nation A History of American Slavery and Enfranchisement by George Spring Merriam

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Related Words

• application
• nomination

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