contestant

noun

con·​tes·​tant kən-ˈte-stənt 

also ˈkän-ˌte-

1

: one that participates in a contest

2

: one that contests an award or decision

Synonyms of contestant

• competitor
• contender
• challenger
• rival

Examples of contestant in a Sentence

The contestant who catches the most fish wins.

The winning contestants will receive a cash prize.

Recent Examples on the Web

There was no other contestant other than Burnham, who comfortably surpassed that threshold. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

This year, for the first time, a sash was given that identifies a contestant with a South Florida city. — Sarah Moreno july 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Of those 10 contestants, five will be eliminated at the end of this episode. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026

The contestants had 50 minutes to make a dessert of their choice. — Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

contest entry 1 + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for contestant

• decongestant

Kids Definition

contestant

noun

con·​test·​ant

kən-ˈtes-tənt

also ˈkän-ˌtes-

: a person who takes part in a contest

Legal Definition

contestant

noun

con·​tes·​tant

: one that initiates or participates in a contest