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

• 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

The Storm once looked like contenders for a deep postseason run, but the team is now clinging to seventh place after losing five straight games in August by five points or less. —Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2025

Translation: The 2025 race will be populated by a largely new slate of contenders. —Team Tvline, TVLine, 11 Aug. 2025

There are plenty of contenders to watch for in next week's new releases, but none that seem likely to disarm Weapons. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2025

Notably, the survey also polled the favorability of three prominent Democrats who have been floated as potential 2026 contenders. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025

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