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.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo plucked her from political obscurity to be his running mate in 2014.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
The lawyer said 17 others, including Mundubile's running mate Makebi Zulu, had also been charged with treason.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
He was interrogated alongside his running mate in the presence of their lawyers, he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 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
John McCain had done himself no favors by choosing Alaska’s governor, Sarah Palin, as his running mate.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
