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Showing results for candidacy. Search instead for recandidacy.
Synonyms

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.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of candidacy

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


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.

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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:

He announced his candidacy long after Roy and Feldstein Soto began their campaigns, yet still surged to a surprise second-place finish in June.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Jackson entered the race late after oyster farmer Graham Platner's candidacy ended amid sexual assault allegations, and Dutremble admitted "my vote was more a vote against Susan, than it was for Troy Jackson."

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

As evangelical Christians, they said Hamilton's candidacy motivated them to put out signs on their lawn and knock on doors for the first time.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Attendees came from all over Texas and were motivated far more by Pulido’s celebrity than his candidacy.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

Barack’s mother had passed away in Honolulu shortly after he announced his candidacy.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Independent candidacies recall the Populists and Silver Republicans who challenged party allegiances in the 1890s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

Those delegates went on to back reforms to the party's primary process that made it easier for insurgent candidacies like Jackson to compete for the party's presidential nomination without backing from the Democratic establishment.

From BBC ● Feb. 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

Largely agreeing on policy, they sought to contrast their candidacies by highlighting their elected experience and life stories.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2025

He retired from politics after this, though often offered various candidacies.

From McClure's Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 6, May, 1896 by Various

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