noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of contestant
From French, dating back to 1655–65; see origin at contest, -ant
Explanation
A contestant is someone who competes in a game or contest. Contestants in many beauty competitions need to demonstrate a talent, like singing or dancing, as well as look pretty. If you're a contestant on a TV game show, you might have to answer trivia questions, and if you're a debate contestant, you need to argue your case clearly. You can also be a contestant in a sporting competition or on a reality show. Contestant comes from the verb contest, from the French contester, "oppose," which has a Latin root, contestari, "to bring action."
Vocabulary lists containing contestant
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Out of My Mind
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Alex Trebek (1940–2020) Tribute List
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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.
See Examples For:
It’s not that I forget about the cameras, but I understand, being a contestant, this is their real life that’s happening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Viewers were surprised early in the series when Kavan, who was sent in as a bombshell, was revealed to be the brother of day-one contestant Aidan Murphy.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
You just have to click as fast as a “Jeopardy!” contestant to grab it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
A resident of Clacton, Worley made news after appearing briefly in the TV show Married at First Sight UK before being removed after an altercation with another contestant.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
“Okay. You’re the expert on this stupid new library game. So where’s your favorite contestant? Where’s Miguel?”
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
Former contestants accused him of visiting their dressing rooms unannounced.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Last year, a beauty pageant contestant was commended for standing up to a group of men who tried to bully her and other contestants over the skirts and western dresses they were wearing.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
That this is a reflection of America is taken as a given, the same way “Love Is Blind” contestants don’t feel the need to mention their evangelical beliefs.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
But with 10 contestants running, it’s more likely that the contest will narrow the field to a two-candidate runoff to be held Aug. 25.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
They said hello to other contestants when they passed.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
