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

• 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

Inaba's absence comes as the show celebrates its 20th anniversary and welcomes 14 new celebrity contestants to the ballroom. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

And Jan Ravnik The second contestant from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is Jen Affleck, another #MomTok influencer who shares videos about her life while challenging traditional Mormon norms. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Former celebrity contestant and champion Alfonso Ribeiro and previous professional dancer Julianne Hough also return as hosts. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025

Sources tell Deadline that there will be no replacement judge in Inaba’s place, meaning the Season 34 contestants will only hear from judges Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough tonight. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025

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