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

In the northern port city of Le Havre, incumbent Mayor Édouard Philippe won a clear victory that strengthens his political standing as a potential presidential contender. —Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026

He’s been regarded as a fringe contender for most of this season, next to candidates including Miami’s Jaime Jaquez, Minnesota’s Naz Reid, San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson and Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026

No, not yet in the form of a candidate, but rather a resounding issue that has peppered contenders’ talking points and polls of likely voters. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026

He’s been optioned to the minors, but is on the Mariners’ 40-man roster and could be an important bullpen component for a contender. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 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