Candidate Elections Job Local Person Party Noun ˈkændɪdət

• a presidential candidate
• one of the leading candidates for the presidency
• he is the best candidate for the job.
• she stood as a candidate in the local elections.

candidate

1. a person who is trying to be elected or is applying for a job
• a presidential candidate
• one of the leading candidates for the presidency
• He is the best candidate for the job.
• She stood as a candidate in the local elections.
• The party is fielding more candidates than ever before.
• to nominate/select a candidate
• to endorse a candidate (= say you support them)

Extra Examples

• Our organization is putting up five candidates in the elections.
• Prospective parliamentary candidates met party leaders last week.
• She decided to stand as a candidate in the local elections.
• She was the only candidate for the post.
• The successful candidate will be fluent in French and German.
• There were no suitable candidates for the position.
• We rejected most of the candidates as unsuitable.
• The party intends to field a candidate in the next general election.
• There were a large number of candidates for the job.
2. a person taking an exam
• Candidates are allowed to use dictionaries in this examination.
• We run special revision courses for examination candidates.
• a candidate for the degree of MPhil
3. a person or group that is considered suitable for something or that is likely to get something or to be something
• Our team is a prime candidate for relegation this year.
• Your father is an obvious candidate for a heart attack.
• She's a likely candidate for promotion.
• This is a prime candidate for best movie of the year.

Word Origin

• early 17th cent.: from Latin candidatus ‘white-robed’, also denoting a candidate for office (who traditionally wore a white toga), from candidus ‘white’.