noun
candidate
KAN-dih-dut/ˈkændɪdət/
A person or thing being considered for selection.
The committee interviews each candidate for the vacant position.
Etymology
The Latin designation originally meant “white-robed”: Roman office-seekers wore gleaming white togas. A name tied to that clothing became a general term for someone seeking office or selection.
In context
So if a candidate running for office has one billion dollars, they can spend one billion trying to win.
More examples
- Several candidates entered the mayoral race.
- This building is a strong candidate for restoration.
- The drug became a candidate for further testing.
Forms
candidate · candidates
Similar words
- applicant
- Someone who formally applies, while a candidate may simply be under consideration.