candidate

noun

can·​di·​date ˈkan-də-ˌdāt 

ˈka-nə-,

-dət

1

a

: one that aspires to or is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award

a candidate for governor

a candidate for "Manager of the Year"

the best candidate for the job

b

: one likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something specified

a candidate for surgery

2

: a student in the process of meeting final requirements for a degree

a PhD candidate

Did you know?

Roman Fashion Is Responsible for Candidate

When a man running for public office in ancient Rome greeted voters in the Forum, the center of judicial and public business, he wore a toga that had been whitened with chalk. As a result, the Latin word for someone seeking office came to be candidatus, meaning literally "clothed in white." Candidatus, in turn, comes from the adjective candidus, meaning "white." Candidatus was adopted into English as candidate, and since the 17th century that word has had an uncontested seat in the language.

Synonyms

• applicant
• applier
• aspirant
• campaigner
• contender
• expectant
• hopeful
• prospect
• seeker

Examples of candidate in a Sentence

Candidates can apply in person or send a resume.

a Ph.D. candidate in linguistics

The program has several doctoral candidates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Asking for advice on how big of a salary to offer a job candidate. —Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

The main speaker is former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a candidate for county supervisor. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024

Gonzalez promised that the vacant positions will soon be filled by new candidates. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024

New self-service features accessed directly from within the platform will increase transparency into candidate testing progress. —Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

Two high-ranking officials on separate teams — one from each conference — believe Lee is a lead candidate and front-runner to be Clifford’s successor. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024

While it has never been attempted by a candidate from a major party before, Trump is allowed to run for president while under indictment in four cases — or even if he is convicted of a crime. —Perry Stein, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

But Nebraska is one of only two states — Maine is the other — that awards a portion of its respective electoral votes to the candidate who wins individual congressional districts. —Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2024

All four candidates are running for governor as Republicans, along with former attorney General Curtis Hill and mom Jamie Reitenour. —Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin candidatus, from candidatus clothed in white, from candidus white; from the white toga worn by candidates for office in ancient Rome

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

candidate

noun

can·​di·​date ˈkan-də-ˌdāt 

ˈkan-ə-,

-dət

: one who runs in an election contest or is proposed for an office or honor

Etymology

from Latin candidatus "candidate," from candidatus (adjective) "dressed in white," from candidus "shining white," from candēre "to be bright, shine" — related to candid, candle

Word Origin

In ancient Rome it was the custom for a person who wanted to be elected to public office to wear a toga that had been rubbed with chalk to make it white. The Latin word for "dressed in white" was candidatus. In time this word came to be used for the person himself, or the candidate. The Latin word candidatus came from candidus, meaning "bright, shining white." This in turn came from candēre, a verb meaning "to shine, be bright." Latin candēre has given us two other English words: candid, which at first meant "white, free from prejudice" but now usually means "honest, natural," and candle, the mass of wax with a wick that is burned to give off a bright light.