running mate
Americannoun
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a candidate for an office linked with another and more important office, as for the vice-presidency.
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a horse entered in a race in which another, more important, horse from the same stable, or belonging to the same owner, is run.
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a close companion.
noun
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a candidate for the subordinate of two linked positions, esp a candidate for the vice-presidency
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a horse that pairs another in a team
Etymology
Origin of running mate
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70
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.
A White House official said Denton’s private comments about Vance becoming Trump’s running mate weren’t based on insider knowledge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
His camp has said he is mulling a female running mate.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
Doncic needs his running mate to compensate for his questionable defensive skills, and Reaves has yet to do that.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, had made a stop at Raw Farm during his presidential campaign, creating multiple videos featuring McAfee.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Caroline is already bugging me to be her running mate when she goes for eighth-grade president next year.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
