running mate

noun

1

: companion

2

: a horse entered in a race to set the pace for a horse of the same owner or stable

3

: a candidate running for a subordinate place on a ticket

especially : the candidate for vice president

Synonyms of running mate

• associate
• colleague
• friend
• buddy
• peer

Examples of running mate in a Sentence

When John F. Kennedy ran for president, his running mate was Lyndon Johnson.

inseparable running mates who first met when they were in elementary school

Recent Examples on the Web

Kennedy won the 1960 election, and Boston Mayor Kevin White was nearly chosen as running mate for Democrat George McGovern in 1972. —Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025

As Garfield hesitantly moves forward with his campaign, he is forced to align with Chester Arthur (Nick Offerman), who unexpectedly becomes his running mate, and with the domineering but highly influential Senator Roscoe Conkling (Shea Whigham). —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025

Vice president President George W Bush asked Cheney to be his running mate in March 2000. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025

After Bush secured the Republican nomination in 2000, Cheney led his selection process to pick a running mate. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for running mate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

running mate

noun

: a candidate running for a lesser office (as vice president) who is on the same ticket with the candidate for the top office