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
• cohort
• companion
• compatriot
• compeer
• comrade
• crony
• fellow
• hobnobber
• mate

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

Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, who Trump is said to be considering for his running mate, suggested that the Jim Crow era had an upside. —Kellen Browning, New York Times, 6 June 2024

A lot hangs in the balance on who Trump chooses: His running mate could help shape the future of the MAGA movement. —Jeongyoon Han, NPR, 6 June 2024

Trump, who does not yet have a running mate, has not accepted this debate yet. —Major Garrett, CBS News, 31 May 2024

Trump has not selected a running mate to be his vice president. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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