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

Really, that the Wings are a contender at all suggests Fernandez’s methods have translated, given the depths to which Dallas sank a season ago. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

The first-term governor faces a safe reelection this fall but is a potential 2028 presidential contender. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 26 Aug. 2026

Mark Brunell turned the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars into contenders almost overnight. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026

Washington looked like one of the NFL’s up-and-coming contenders during a breakout 2024 — but that didn’t materialize last season amid injuries, inconsistency by quarterback Jayden Daniels and one of the league’s worst defenses. — Nbc Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 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