What Does Candidate Mean?
A candidate is a person who is trying to get something, such as a job, a prize or a place on a team. In an election, the candidates are the people you can vote for.
It is a noun, and you can count it: one candidate, three candidates.
There are two candidates for class captain.
Each candidate gave a short speech.
🔊 Pronunciation
KAN-di-dayt
The stress is on the first part.
🗣️ Natural Examples
Three candidates are waiting outside the room.
She is a strong candidate for the school prize.
Every candidate has a number on a card.
Who is your favourite candidate for class captain?
The best candidate will join the team on Monday.
🛠️ How to Use It
Candidate is a neutral word and works in school, at work and in the news.
- Use for with the thing someone wants: a candidate for the job.
- You can say a good candidate or a strong candidate when you think someone is likely to win.
- In an exam, the people who take it are sometimes called candidates too.
🤝 Common Word Partners
- a candidate for
- a strong candidate
- a good candidate
- the best candidate
- a job candidate
- the candidates for class captain
👯 Similar and Related Words
- applicant: a person who has applied for a job or a place.
- nominee: a person who has been named as a possible winner.
- contender: someone who has a real chance of winning.
- candid: honest and open. It is a cousin of candidate, but the meaning is different.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Use for.
❌ She is a candidate to class captain.
✅ She is a candidate for class captain.
Spelling. There are two ds, with an i between them.
❌ canditate, candiate
✅ candidate
Candidate or candid?
❌ Please be candidate with me.
✅ Please be candid with me. (honest)
💬 In a Conversation
Sam: I am a candidate for class captain.
Mia: Do you have a speech?
Sam: I do. It is short.
Mia: What does it say?
Sam: Vote for me, and I will bring snacks.
Mia: You are a very good candidate.
🕵️ Where Does It Come From?
The word comes from Latin candidatus, which first meant "dressed in white". It is related to candidus, "shining" or "bright", and to candere, "to shine".
In ancient Rome, people who wanted a public job wore a bright white toga, the toga candida. It was possibly made whiter with finely ground chalk. The white clothes were meant to show that the wearer had pure intentions. English began to use candidate around the year 1600.
💡 The OddLingo Trick
Picture a Roman in a shining white toga.
He is hoping to win a job. Candidate means "the one in white", and the word candid shines from the same root.