contender

noun

con·​tend·​er kən-ˈten-dər 

: one that contends

especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor

a heavyweight title contender

the leading presidential contenders

Synonyms of contender

• candidate

Examples of contender in a Sentence

There are several contestants, but only two real contenders.

This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.

Recent Examples on the Web

Troy’s resurgence as a girls basketball contender under coach Kevin Kiernan encountered a challenging checkpoint Saturday. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026

If the pattern holds up here, today’s Spirits winners could be major contenders at film’s biggest night March 15. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2026

After a week of many of this year’s Oscar contenders being feted at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Kate Hudson sat down for a wide-ranging chat about her career for the fest’s final tribute. —Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026

But if there was any doubt that the Horned Frogs could match or even exceed last year’s run, Suarez and Miles reminded the country why TCU should still be considered a contender with March around the corner. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

contend + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contender

• bartender
• defender
• engender
• extender
• offender
• pretender
• provender
• surrender
• suspender
• transgender
• bender
• blender