: seeking to attain a desired position or status
the pilot was an aspirant astronaut
Examples of aspirant in a Sentence
Noun
a debate between the two aspirants for the highest office
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Despite many aspirants and imitators, there really hasn’t been anything like it since.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
This is a player who has separated himself from some of the other aspirant-tier players at Canucks training camp as the preseason has gone along.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
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Noun
For example, take a gander at the aspirants lining up to run for Chicago mayor in 2027 (or at least the ones who are looking to be boldface names).
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Despite many aspirants and imitators, there really hasn’t been anything like it since.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
For a local political aspirant seeking to burnish her nativist credentials, the chance to trigger an international incident was apparently irresistible.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
This is a player who has separated himself from some of the other aspirant-tier players at Canucks training camp as the preseason has gone along.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aspirant
Cite this Entry
“Aspirant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aspirant. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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