candidate

candidate — noun

1. someone who applies for a job or asks people to vote for them in an election, ho

1.nounB2
Definition

someone who applies for a job or asks people to vote for them in an election, hoping to be chosen for the role or position.

Example

The committee interviewed five candidates for the manager position.

candidate for + role

Kofi was one of the strongest candidates in the mayoral election.

strong candidate (positive evaluation)

Common collocations
  • stand as a candidate
  • candidate for
  • select a candidate
  • interview candidates
  • shortlisted candidate
  • presidential candidate
Synonyms
  • applicant

    narrower — only for jobs or positions, not elections

  • nominee

    narrower — someone officially proposed for a role or award, often after a formal selection process

  • contender

    more informal; emphasises active competition rather than formal application

2. someone or something viewed as having a good likelihood of being selected for a

2.nounB2
Definition

someone or something viewed as having a good likelihood of being selected for a role or of going through a particular experience — such as a person likely to win an award or a city being considered to host a major event.

Example

That old building is a strong candidate for demolition.

candidate for + action/outcome

Barcelona was seen as the leading candidate to host the next conference.

leading candidate + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • strong candidate
  • likely candidate
  • obvious candidate
  • prime candidate
  • leading candidate
  • candidate to + verb
Synonyms
  • possibility

    more neutral and objective — 'a possibility for promotion' sounds less personal than 'a candidate for promotion'

  • contender

    more informal, and usually implies active competition rather than passive likelihood

  • prospect

    slightly more formal; often used for things rather than people ('the best prospect for development')

Usage Note

Typically used with adjectives like 'likely', 'strong', 'obvious', 'perfect', or 'prime' to indicate how probable the outcome is. Unlike sense 1, this sense can refer to things as well as people.

Common Mistakes

She is a candidate to win the prize' (when meaning she will probably win).
She is a strong candidate to win the prize.
'candidate' alone simply means someone being considered; use 'strong' or 'likely' to convey probability.

3. a person who takes a test or examination to show their knowledge or skill in a s

3.nounB1
Definition

a person who takes a test or examination to show their knowledge or skill in a subject.

Example

All candidates must bring a pencil and an eraser to the exam hall.

modal: must + bring

The examiner read out the rules before the candidates opened their papers.

Common collocations
  • exam candidate
  • candidate sits an exam
  • successful candidate
  • unsuccessful candidate
  • candidate's details
Synonyms
  • test-taker

    less formal; common in everyday conversation and test-prep materials

  • examinee

    very formal and impersonal; mainly used in official exam documentation

  • sitter

    British informal, found in phrases like 'exam sitter' but rare as a standalone word

Usage Note

In exam contexts, 'candidate' implies someone who is present and actively taking the test — not someone who has simply registered. It is the standard term used in exam instructions and official documents.

Common Mistakes

The candidate passed his test' — technically correct but too formal for casual conversation.
The student passed his test.
use 'student' or 'test-taker' in informal contexts.

Word family

  • candidacy
    nounC1
  • candidature
    nounC2
  • candid
    adjectiveB2
  • candidly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone seeking a position or opportunity, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Applicant' is the most limited: it refers only to someone who has formally applied for a job, course, or permit — never to someone in an election. 'Nominee' means someone officially proposed for a role or award, often after a selection committee has narrowed the field, so it is more exclusive than 'candidate'. 'Contender' is less formal and emphasises active rivalry — you would call a boxer or a sports team a contender, not an applicant. 'Aspirant' is rare and formal, suggesting ambition rather than actual qualification; it is more common in literary or political commentary. For everyday use, especially in job and election contexts, 'candidate' is the safest choice: e.g., 'We had forty candidates for the post' is natural, whereas 'forty aspirants' would sound odd.

applicant ↗nominee ↗contender ↗aspirant

Common collocations

Nouns

  • candidate list
  • candidate profile
  • candidate experience

Phrases

  • stand as a candidate
  • put forward as a candidate
  • shortlist of candidates

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'candidatus', meaning 'clothed in white' — from 'candidus' (white). In ancient Rome, a person running for public office wore a bright white toga (toga candida) as a symbol of purity and honesty. The word entered English in the early 1600s, first referring to someone seeking a political position, and later extended to anyone being considered for a job, an award, or an examination.