contestant

noun

con·​tes·​tant kən-ˈte-stənt How to pronounce contestant (audio)
 also  ˈkän-ˌte-
1
: one that participates in a contest
2
: one that contests an award or decision

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cynthia is now the only contestant to have made the semifinals without winning a challenge. Chris Feil, Vulture, 27 June 2025 The season had plenty of surprises besides Oscar-winning actresses, too — most notably the inclusion of an innocent newborn infant as a contestant in the game, an upping of the show’s anti-capitalist moral stakes to their logical extreme. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025 However, others in the comment section felt that the woman’s connection to the final clue gave her an unfair advantage over her other contestants. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 25 June 2025 Many viewers and fellow contestants felt that the couple rushed into a serious dynamic too quickly, causing conflict in the villa. Daysia Tolentino, EW.com, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for contestant

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contestant was in 1665

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contestant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contestant. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on contestant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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