ENGLISH
REFERENCE

applicant

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈæpɫɪkənt// UK //ˈæplɪkənt// ap·pli·cant General-service

n. a person who formally asks for something, like a job, a place at a university, or a legal document.

n. a person who makes a formal application for a position, privilege, or legal remedy.


SIMPLE

The successful applicant starts work next Monday.

CONTEXTUAL

Each applicant must submit a resume and three professional references before the Friday deadline.

COMPLEX

The selection committee reviewed every applicant against a rigorous set of criteria to ensure the final candidate possessed both the technical skills and the cultural fit required for the role.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin applicans, present participle of applicare. See apply.

Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the object of the request.

Pitfall

the applicant of the jobthe applicant for the jobLearners often use 'of' to connect the person to the role, but 'applicant' typically takes the preposition 'for'.

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