candidate

noun

can·​di·​date ˈkan-də-ˌdāt 

ˈka-nə-, 

-dət

1

a

: one that aspires to or is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award

a candidate for governor

a candidate for "Manager of the Year"

the best candidate for the job

b

: one likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something specified

a candidate for surgery

2

: a student in the process of meeting final requirements for a degree

a PhD candidate

Did you know?

Roman Fashion Is Responsible for Candidate

When a man running for public office in ancient Rome greeted voters in the Forum, the center of judicial and public business, he wore a toga that had been whitened with chalk. As a result, the Latin word for someone seeking office came to be candidatus, meaning literally "clothed in white." Candidatus, in turn, comes from the adjective candidus, meaning "white." Candidatus was adopted into English as candidate, and since the 17th century that word has had an uncontested seat in the language.

Synonyms of candidate

• applicant
• contender

Examples of candidate in a Sentence

Candidates can apply in person or send a resume.

a Ph.D. candidate in linguistics

The program has several doctoral candidates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Grégoire said Parisians made a clear choice in favor of the left as Dati, the right-wing candidate, was backed by the far right. —Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026

An example of a polarizing candidate is right-wing activist and former YouTuber Laura Loomer, who lost both of her Florida House races in 2020 and 2022. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026

In 2009, when an election was stolen from a reformist candidate and handed to a hard-liner, millions of people marched peacefully in the streets. —Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

Earlier polls put Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Gregoire ahead of the conservative challenger Rachida Dati in the race to take over from Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who’s led the French capital for three terms. —Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin candidātus "man running for public office," noun derivative from candidātus "dressed in white clothes," from candidus "bright, white" + -ātus -ate entry 3; from the whitened toga worn by candidates for office in ancient Rome — more at candid entry 1

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing candidate

• Manchurian candidate

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Kids Definition

candidate

noun

can·​di·​date ˈkan-də-ˌdāt 

ˈkan-ə-, 

-dət

: one who runs in an election contest or is proposed for an office or honor

Etymology

from Latin candidatus "candidate," from candidatus (adjective) "dressed in white," from candidus "shining white," from candēre "to be bright, shine" — related to candid, candle

Word Origin

In ancient Rome it was the custom for a person who wanted to be elected to public office to wear a toga that had been rubbed with chalk to make it white. The Latin word for "dressed in white" was candidatus. In time this word came to be used for the person himself, or the candidate. The Latin word candidatus came from candidus, meaning "bright, shining white." This in turn came from candēre, a verb meaning "to shine, be bright." Latin candēre has given us two other English words: candid, which at first meant "white, free from prejudice" but now usually means "honest, natural," and candle, the mass of wax with a wick that is burned to give off a bright light.