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

The challenges that the rest of the contestants will face as the season continues include a supply load retrieval while suspended 300 feet above the jungle floor, chemical gassing and a claustrophobic, high-pressure search of an underground bunker. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

For its big twist, sisters Kari and Gina Bravata were pitted against each other as contestants — only Gina’s participation was kept secret from Kari. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Tocantins Her stint on Survivor may not have lasted long, but the first Tocantins boot continued to make news when Redemption Island contestant David Murphy proposed to her during his season’s live reunion show. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026

The event will feature a five-course prix fixe meal with a menu created by James Beard award finalist and the first-ever indigenous contestant on the cooking program Chopped Chef Crystal Wahpepah of Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 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