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

So far, the mission has cataloged nearly 7,900 candidates known as TESS Objects of Interest, with 759 of them already confirmed as planets. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026

Mayor John McCann, who presided over the meeting, acknowledged all six candidates following the vote. —Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

Mercy Culture’s pastors hung a candidate’s banner behind the pulpit, endorsed politicians during Sunday services, said that people who vote for Democrats weren’t truly Christian, and described Kamala Harris as a demonic Jezebel taking the form of a snake encircling the White House. —Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026

Murray has been mentioned as a candidate for Syracuse, though Gerry McNamara, with deep Orange ties and head coaching experience at Siena, is thought to be a favorite there. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 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.