contender

[ kuhn-ten-der ]

noun

1. a person or group that competes against others to win something; contestant:

   The three remaining contenders for the Democratic Party nomination met for a televised debate.

2. a person or group with a good chance of success in a contest:

   After last season’s disaster, the Texas team needed to convince me they were a contender.

Word History and Origins

Origin of contender¹

contend ( def ) + -er ¹( def )

Example Sentences

The Dodgers are expected to be a top contender for Sasaki, though Wolfe said he still has to talk more with Sasaki about exactly what he is looking for in an MLB team.

From Los Angeles Times

Unlike the Oscars, the Golden Globes also have awards for TV shows, with The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, Shogun and Baby Reindeer the main contenders in those categories.

From BBC

In a year with several strong contenders, there is currently no consensus on what will ultimately win best picture at the Oscars on 2 March.

From BBC

Mother’s solo song, “The Mirror,” is an evocative, gut-wrenching number that instantly proves itself as a late-breaking contender for musical performance of the year.

From Salon

Failing that, the top two contenders will enter a run-off vote to take place by the end of December.

From BBC

Related Words

• adversary
• challenger
• competition
• contestant
• opponent
• rival