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

• 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

Even in California, a reliably blue state, the soul-searching has been extreme, as seen at last weekend’s state Democratic Party convention, where a parade of speakers — including Harris’ 2024 running mate, Tim Walz — wailed and moaned and did the woe-is-us-thing. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025

Thus far, he’s had a wide array of guests, including former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, as well as Klobuchar and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ 2024 running mate. —Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2025

Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy's previous 2024 running mate, expressed her disappointment with the nomination in a post splitting with Trump and Kennedy. —Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 9 May 2025

Star safety Kyle Hamilton also needs a running mate. —Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 11 Apr. 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