candidate

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who is competing for a job, a prize, or an elected post, or who is being considered for one.

   Grammar: Often followed by for: a candidate for the post, not a candidate to the post.

   Patterns

   • a candidate for something
   • a candidate to do something

   The firm interviewed six candidates for the accounting job.

   She is the youngest candidate in the school board election.

   Every candidate must sit the same written exam.

2. 2nouncountableBritish

   A person taking an exam, especially in Britain, or a student working toward a degree.

   Grammar: In this sense it names someone sitting a test: candidates must not talk during the exam.

   Patterns

   • a candidate for a degree

   Candidates have three hours to complete the paper.

   He is a candidate for a master's degree in geology.

3. 3nouncountablefigurative

   A thing or person that seems suitable or likely to receive a particular treatment, outcome or fate.

   Grammar: Used figuratively with for: an old building can be a candidate for demolition.

   Patterns

   • a candidate for something
   • a prime candidate for something

   That crumbling bridge is a prime candidate for repair.

   Her quiet, steady manner makes her a natural candidate for team leader.

   Patients with this condition are good candidates for the new therapy.

Word forms

Common combinations

presidential candidate

The presidential candidate toured five states in a week.

leading candidate

Marcus emerged as the leading candidate after the second interview.

shortlist of candidates

The panel drew up a shortlist of four candidates.

stand as a candidate

She decided to stand as a candidate in the local election.

suitable candidate

We could not find a suitable candidate among the applicants.

ideal candidate

The ad described the ideal candidate as organized and patient.

Synonyms and how they differ

applicant

An applicant is anyone who has applied, while a candidate is usually someone still in the running after some screening.

nominee

A nominee has been formally proposed by others, whereas a candidate may simply have put themselves forward.

contender

A contender is someone with a real chance of winning, which a candidate does not have to be.

hopeful

A hopeful is an informal way of describing a candidate who wants the prize badly, often in the press.

Word family

candidacy noun

the state or period of being a candidate

candidature noun

British word for candidacy

candid adjective

honest and direct; shares the Latin root meaning white or shining

Commonly confused: candidate or candid?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “candidate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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