Synonyms for candidate
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Nominee
2. Applicant
applicant, aspirant, solicitor, claimant, petitioner, solicitant rare
Definitions
- n. 1
A person who seeks to be elected or appointed to a position or privilege.
Smith announced he was the party's candidate for the next election.
- n. 2
A person who is thought likely or worthy to gain a position or privilege.
Related words
- Word family
- candidacy candidature candela candelabrum candid candle candlestick
- Phrases
- parachute candidate
Forms
- Plural
- candidates → nominees, campaigners, applicants, aspirants…
Example sentences
- nominee The senators are trying to bork the nominee.
- campaigner The eloquent campaigner was elected hands down.
- applicant Tom advised the job applicant to redo her resume.
- possible I'd like to stay one more night. Is that possible?
- prospect Ukrainians face the prospect of a drawn-out war.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| candidate | steady | |
| nominee | steady | |
| campaigner | rising | |
| applicant | falling | |
| aspirant | steady | |
| possible | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- nominee3
- 8 letters
- possible3, prospect2, claimant2, aspirant3
- 9 letters
- solicitor4, applicant3, postulant
- 10 letters
- campaigner3, petitioner4, solicitant
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (nominee3 = 3 syllables).