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

To win, the contestants must outwit their opponents and identify the suspect, location and murder weapon of the crime. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025

Grab your notebooks, future reality show contestants, as the season 47 champion presents Rachel LaMont’s 5-point plan toward mastering Survivor puzzles. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025

Romelus was once a contestant on Paternity Court, a court TV series that focused on all-things family, ranging from questions about paternity to stories involving DNA. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025

The series will feature a group of contestants facing physical and mental challenges to collect clues before stepping into a real-life game of deduction and deception. —Peter White, Deadline, 7 Oct. 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