applicant

noun

ap·​pli·​cant ˈa-pli-kənt How to pronounce applicant (audio)
: one who applies
a job applicant

Examples of applicant in a Sentence

We interviewed 30 qualified applicants for the job. have numerous applicants for the job
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Newsom said in a statement that the bill sought to clarify that California’s educational institutions may consider providing a preference in admission to an applicant who was a descendant of a slave, which was not needed. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025 Then applicants are required to go through an orientation period, including homebuyer education and a financial readiness assessment, and apply through an official link. Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025 In a rare example of agency for a beneficiary community, 21 emerging Indigenous leaders recently crafted selection criteria, evaluated applicants and picked two dozen finalists to split a pool of $720,000. Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025 The program’s new emphasis on higher wage earners, who will receive more slots in the visa lottery compared to recent college graduates, will favor older, more experienced applicants, said Ben Johnston, COO of Kapitus, a small business lender. Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for applicant

Word History

Etymology

applicate "to apply, put to use" (borrowed from Latin applicātus, past participle of applicāre "to bring into contact [with], situate near, bring to bear [on]") + -ant entry 1 — more at apply

First Known Use

circa 1742, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of applicant was circa 1742

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Applicant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applicant. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

applicant

noun
ap·​pli·​cant ˈap-li-kənt How to pronounce applicant (audio)
: one who applies for something
an applicant for work

More from Merriam-Webster on applicant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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