DictionaryAI

candidate

KAN-di-dayt/ˈkæn.dɪ.deɪt/UKKAN-di-duht/ˈkæn.dɪdət/
As a verbKAN-di-dayt

Pluralcandidates

6 meanings of candidate

Practice

  1. 1
    seeking electionnouncountable
    A person trying to get elected or chosen for a job or position.

    Like someone raising a hand to be picked for a team.

    Each candidate gave a short speech before the vote.

    Voters asked the candidates tough questions about jobs and schools.

    UsageSay a candidate for a job or office: a candidate for mayor.

    Similarcontender, nominee, aspirant

    Note
  2. 2
    likely choicenouncountable
    Someone or something that might be chosen, or would be a good choice, for a job, prize, or use.

    Like the player most likely to be chosen next.

    This old bridge is a candidate for repair next year.

    Both players are strong candidates for the award.

    UsageSay a good candidate for something: a strong candidate for the prize.

    Note
  3. 3
    exam takernouncountable
    A person taking a test or exam.

    Each candidate must bring a pencil to the exam.

    The candidates waited quietly for the test to begin.

    Similarexaminee

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    seek church postverbrareintransitive
    To try to be chosen for a job, often a church role.

    He will candidate for the pastor's position next month.

    The matter of candidating for a pulpit is not a matter of difference between congregations and Rabbis, but between Rabbis themselves.
    1906, Year Book of the Central Conference of American RabbisHere, candidating means putting yourself forward to be chosen as a religious leader.

    UsageSay candidate at a church or candidate for a job.

    Similarrun, stand

    Note
  2. 5
    proposeverbnonstandardtransitive
    To name something as a possible choice for a purpose.
    Performance comparison of solar energy conversion candidated for SPS. (From NASA, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston 1977.)
    1982, Brian O'Leary, Space industrialization

    UsageIn careful writing, say put forward instead. Many readers think this verb is a mistake.

    Similarnominate, propose

    Note
  3. 6
    noun
    A gene that might be involved in a particular disease.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of candidate apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin candidātus, meaning a person running for public office. It came from candidus, meaning bright white, because Roman candidates wore white togas to show purity.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts