entrant
Americannoun
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a person who enters
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a new member of a group, society, or association
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a person who enters a competition or contest; competitor
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of entrant
1625–35; < French, noun use of entrant, present participle of entrer to enter
Explanation
An entrant is someone who signs up to compete or participate in something. A person who enters a country is also an entrant, like an American who crosses the border into Canada. If there are millions of entrants in a lottery, your chances of winning aren't great — but if you're one of only five entrants in your school's raffle, you just might go home with a new bike or a trip to Cleveland. A beginner at some job or activity is also an entrant, like an entrant into the field of microbiology. This meaning is the oldest, dating from the seventeenth century.
Vocabulary lists containing entrant
"The Fast and the Fuel-Efficient" and "Teens Open Doors"
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See You in the Cosmos
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"CLEP Principles of Management," Vocabulary from Chapter 7
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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.
Recent entrant Cerebras, which launched the first of its giant chips for both training and inference only in 2019, raised $5.55 billion in its IPO on Thursday, and its shares more than doubled immediately.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
One new entrant is Erica Christie, 44, from Indianapolis.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
This year's entrant for San Marino, Senhit, has enlisted the help of Boy George, who will be lending vocals to her song Superstar.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
Arenas had submitted his name as an early entrant in the NBA draft, the deadline for which was Monday.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
All fish must be caught on hook and line; one rod per entrant, which must be affixed to the pier or held by the entrant at all times.
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.
