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candidate Definition

can·di·date (kandə dāt′, -dət)

noun

  1. a person who seeks, or who has been proposed for, an office, an award, etc.
  2. a person or thing apparently destined to come to a certain end a candidate for greatness

Etymology: L candidatus, white-robed < candidus (see candid): office seekers in ancient Rome wore white gowns

candidate Synonyms

candidate

n.

aspirant, possible choice, nominee, applicant, suitor, political contestant, office-seeker, hopeful, competitor, bidder, place-hunter, solicitor, petitioner, claimant, job-hunter, front-runner, dark horse, running mate, favorite son, campaigner, stumper*; see also contestant.

candidate Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • nominate: Because the MDC here did not nominate candidates for the approaching Senate elections, we will not have any voting.
  • short-list: There are two elements to the selection process for short-listed candidates: an interview panel and a presentation panel.
  • qualify: The appointments are expected to be at the Assistant Professor level, but a more senior appointment is possible for exceptionally qualified candidates.
  • select: The writer therefore questioned the Guardians ' ability and judgment to ever select an acceptable candidate.

Adjective modifier

  • successful: The successful candidates will be located in their London office.
  • ideal: The ideal candidate should have a research, social science or history background.
  • presidential: This is, after all, Iowa, where presidential candidates know hog farmers, and some hogs, by their first names.
  • prospective: Parents and schools of prospective candidates are urged to contact the Director of Music in advance.
  • parliamentary: At the last election Geoffrey Cox, Conservative, was elected MP by a narrow majority over our prospective parliamentary candidate David Walter.
  • suitable: The most suitable candidates are often tempted away by higher salaries in the private sector.

Modifies a noun

  • numeral: In the subscript the candidate numerals are written in subscript in the cells.
  • elimination: One method of candidate elimination works by identifying " matched cells " .
  • gene: Filter candidate genes to only show those expressed in a given tissue.
  • sac: UK Government policy is to treat candidate SACs as designated SACs.

Noun used with modifier

  • Dem: Lib Dem candidate Amy Rodger was born in 1977 and has an MA in politics from Glasgow university.
  • caliber: Present them with their dream shortlist of high caliber candidates?

Preposition: in

  • by-election: The SSP candidate in a council by-election in Irvine won 27.5 % of the vote on the previous thursday.
  • election: It was for all the ( Labor ) candidates in the county elections.

Preposition: for

  • mayor: The key problem had been the Renamo candidate for mayor of Maputo, Artur Vilanculos.
  • election: Hamish is also Salisbury's prospective Green candidate for the general election.
candidate Quotes

This is a candidate of probity and integrityöI am going to back him to the full.

—Hague,William

   The only candidate who can whistle Dixie while humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

—O'Brien,JohnJ

A potato candidate.The best part of him isunderground.

—Anonymous

Browse dictionary entries near candidate

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  4. Candiot
  5. candle
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  9. candleholder
  10. candlelight