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 TikTok edits, the outfit identification threads, the contestant rivalries trending on X by the end of an episode, all of it turns 60 minutes of passive viewing into a multi-platform conversation that runs all week. — Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

The former Conservative lawmaker and prisons minister found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

In total, there are 14 houseguests this season, including Barrett Pfeiffer, a contestant that lives in Austin but is not from Texas. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026

Miller believes appearing on reality TV can also give contestants a rare opportunity to examine their own behavior from the outside. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 July 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