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View synonyms for

candidate

[ noun kan-di-deyt, -dit; verb kan-di-deyt ]

noun

  1. a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.:

    a candidate for governor.

  2. a person who is selected by others as a contestant for an office, honor, etc.
  3. a person who is deserving of or seems destined for a certain end or fate:

    Such a reckless spender is a candidate for the poorhouse.

  4. a student studying for a degree:

    Candidates for the B.A. will have to meet certain minimum requirements.



verb (used without object)

candidated, candidating.
  1. to become a candidate for service as a new minister of a church; preach before a congregation that is seeking a new minister.

candidate

/ -dɪt; ˈkændɪdətʃə; ˈkændɪˌdeɪt; ˈkændɪdəsɪ /

noun

  1. a person seeking or nominated for election to a position of authority or honour or selection for a job, promotion, etc
  2. a person taking an examination or test
  3. a person or thing regarded as suitable or likely for a particular fate or position

    this wine is a candidate for his cellar

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • candidacy, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·徱·岹· [kan, -di-d, uh, -see], noun
  • ··徱·岹·ٳܰ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of candidate1

First recorded in 1605–15, candidate is from the Latin word Ի徱ٳܲ “clothed in white” (adective), “candidate for office” (noun, in reference to the white togas worn by those seeking office); candid, -ate 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of candidate1

C17: from Latin Ի徱ٳܲ clothed in white (because in ancient Rome a candidate wore a white toga), from candidus white
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Reform UK's candidate to be the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire is entitled to stand in the contest after she was challenged over her right to do so, an electoral official has said.

From

And also a chance for Raphinha to claim his place among the best this season, a clear candidate for the Ballon D'Or with 27 goals and 16 assists in La Liga and the Champions League.

From

At least 29 candidates sought to fill the vacant seat.

From

Now he's arguing that Black people are uniquely violent, as part of his bid to rebrand himself as a Republican candidate.

From

He also has close links to the Labour party, having written two books about them, and having made a number of donations to the party's candidates.

From

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More About Candidate

doescandidate mean?

Candidate most commonly means someone who’s seeking to be elected, hired, or appointed to a position, especially a political office or job.

The word candidate most commonly refers to a politician seeking election or a person who has applied for a job. But it can be used in several other ways to refer to someone or something under consideration for some kind of treatment or status.

Example: We have more than 100 applicants, but almost none of them are qualified candidates for this job.

Where doescandidate come from?

The word candidate comes from the Latin Ի徱ٳܲ, meaning “clothed in white”—a reference to the fact that ancient Roman political candidates often wore white togas (or robes). The related word candid, meaning “outspoken or sincere,” comes from the Latin candidus, meaning “shining white.” The first recorded use of candidate in English comes from the 1600s.

Candidate has been used since then to refer to politicians running for office. Later, candidate began to be used in relation to academics, referring to a student pursuing a particular degree, such as a Ph.D. candidate. The word is commonly used today to mean someone who has applied for a job. Candidate can refer to any applicant for a job, but it is often specifically used for one who is seriously being considered for it.

Candidate can also be used in a more general way to refer to any person being considered for something, as in candidate for surgery (a person who may qualify to undergo a procedure) or candidate for promotion. But candidate isn’t only used for people—things can be candidates, too. For example, a particular expense might be considered a candidate for a budget cut, or a wine may be a candidate for a prize.

The word candidate is often used in the context of official decisions, but it doesn’t have to be. You could say that a movie is a candidate for your top 10 list, or you could tease your friend by saying they’re a candidate for Blockhead of the Year. (If we’re being candid, that seems like what most politicians are running for, too.)

Did you know ... ?

are some other forms of candidate?

  • candidacy (noun)
  • candidateship (noun, primarily British)
  • candidature (noun, primarily British)
  • precandidacy (noun)
  • precanditure (noun)

are some synonyms for candidate?

are some words that share a root or word element with candidate?

are some words that often get used in discussing candidate?

are some words candidate may be commonly confused with?

How iscandidateused in real life?

Candidate is most often used in the context of running for political office or applying for a job.

Try usingcandidate!

Which of the following words can be a synonym for candidate?

A. associate
B. applicant
C. consideration
D. campaign

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candidacycandidate species