candidate

The word “candidate” means a person seeking to be elected or appointed to a position. In plain terms, someone (or something) up for selection, whether for a job, election, or other purpose.

“Candidate” is pronounced KAN-dih-duht (/ˈkæn.dɪ.dɪt/ in IPA).

Here is “candidate” used in a sentence: “Three candidates are running for city council this year.”

“Candidate” is a noun.

The word “candidate” comes from Latin. From Latin candidatus, "one dressed in white" — Roman office-seekers traditionally wore white togas.

“Candidate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Candidate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person seeking to be elected or appointed to a position.

The word applies in several settings. In politics, a candidate stands for election to office. In hiring, a job candidate applies for a role. In education, a candidate sits an exam or works toward a degree. There are also presidential, parliamentary, and local candidates, along with write-in and independent ones.

A candidate is anyone seeking a position or standing for election. A nominee is a candidate who has been formally chosen or put forward, often to represent a party or to receive an award. Every nominee starts as a candidate, but a candidate becomes a nominee only once officially selected.

The terms overlap in hiring but differ in emphasis. An applicant is anyone who has applied for a role. A candidate is usually an applicant taken seriously and considered for it, often after early screening. In short, all candidates applied, but not every applicant becomes a genuine candidate for the job.

A politician running for mayor is a candidate. So is a person interviewing for a teaching job, a student registered to take a qualifying exam, or someone shortlisted for an award. In each case, the candidate is seeking to be elected, appointed, or selected for a particular position.