a person seeking or nominated for election to a position of authority or honour or selection for a job, promotion, etc a person taking an examination or test a person or thing regarded as suitable or likely for a particular fate or position: this wine is a candidate for his cellar
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
can•di•date /ˈkændɪˌdeɪt, -dɪt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a person who seeks a political office, etc.:the seven presidential candidates.
- a person deserving of a certain fate: a candidate for the poorhouse.
- Educationa student studying for a degree:a bachelor of arts candidate.
can•di•date
(n. kan′di dāt′, -dit;v. kan′di dāt′),USA pronunciation n., v., -dat•ed, -dat•ing.
n.
v.i.
can•di•da•cy
(kan′di də sē);USA pronunciation [Chiefly Brit.,] can•di•da•ture
(kan′di də chər),USA pronunciation can′di•date•ship′, n.
n.
- a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.:a candidate for governor.
- a person who is selected by others as a contestant for an office, honor, etc.
- a person who is deserving of or seems destined for a certain end or fate:Such a reckless spender is a candidate for the poorhouse.
- Educationa student studying for a degree:Candidates for the B.A. will have to meet certain minimum requirements.
v.i.
- Puritanism, Religionto become a candidate for service as a new minister of a church;
preach before a congregation that is seeking a new minister.
- Latin candidātus clothed in white (adjective, adjectival), candidate for office (noun, nominal, in reference to the white togas worn by those seeking office). See candid, -ate1
- 1605–15
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