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 stakes are even higher for this year’s Dancing With the Stars contestants with a double elimination during season 35 premiere week. — Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026

No launch date or contestant casting as been revealed yet, but the show will stream free on Prime Video and the MX Player Android app, which is still available under a a new identity – MX Player by Prime Video. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

The season will run as a weekly series with an all-celebrity cast of 32 contestants, a step up from the show’s Japanese debut. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Some contestants made tributes to Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by federal agents. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 Sep. 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