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

Liz Lauren Mosquera was recognized as the contestant with the Best Skin. — Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Patsy, a former beauty pageant contestant who won Miss West Virginia in 1977, encouraged her daughter’s participation in pageants, and JonBenét won a number of contests. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

But putting together contestants for each season is much more involved than a quickfire challenge. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

Included in this group of accomplished contestants are runners from all over the United States and even a Japanese import (Finger). — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 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