Word
candidate
Phoneticscan·di·date, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkændədeɪt/
UK/kˈændɪdˌeɪt/
Definitions
01job or election
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Politics
n. a person who is competing for a job or trying to be elected to a position.
n. a person who seeks or is nominated for an office, position, or membership in an organisation.
“The company interviewed five candidates for the manager position.”
“The presidential candidate spent the final week of the campaign touring the swing states to secure undecided voters.”
02exam taker
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Education British English
n. a person who is taking an examination or test.
n. an individual who is being formally assessed or examined, particularly in an academic or professional context.
“Candidates must show their ID cards before entering the exam hall.”
“The invigilator reminded the candidates that any attempt to communicate during the examination would result in immediate disqualification.”
Synonyms
03likely choice
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. someone or something that seems suitable for a specific purpose or likely to experience something.
n. a person or thing regarded as suitable for or likely to undergo a particular fate or treatment.
“This old bridge is a prime candidate for repair work next year.”
“Given its history of financial instability, the small airline was considered a likely candidate for a takeover by a larger competitor.”
Synonyms
04advanced student
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Education Academic · Formal
n. a student who has finished their classes but is still working on a final project like a dissertation.
n. a student who has completed all requirements for a doctoral degree except for the dissertation.
“As a PhD candidate, she spends most of her time in the laboratory.”
“The department provides a shared office space for doctoral candidates who are in the final stages of writing their dissertations.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'doctoral candidate'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “candidate” in context.
Verb
01. candidate stands
“The candidate stands for election in the local district this year.”
noun + verb
02. candidate withdraws
“The candidate withdrew from the race due to personal reasons.”
noun + verb
03. interview candidate
“We plan to interview each candidate for thirty minutes.”
verb + noun
04. nominate candidate
“The party members met to nominate a candidate for the local election.”
verb + noun
05. reject candidate
“It is difficult to reject a candidate who has so much potential.”
verb + noun
06. shortlist candidate
“The committee will shortlist three candidates for the final round.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. external candidate
“The company decided to hire an external candidate for the manager position.”
adj + noun
08. ideal candidate
“She is the ideal candidate for the job because of her experience.”
adj + noun
09. presidential candidate
“The presidential candidate promised to lower taxes during the debate.”
adj + noun
Noun
10. pool of candidates
“We have a very strong pool of candidates for this teaching post.”
noun + prep + noun
11. a strong candidate for
“He is a strong candidate for the promotion given his recent performance.”
12. put forward a candidate
“The opposition party has put forward a candidate to challenge the mayor.”
Etymology
From Latin candidātus (“a person who is standing for public office”, noun), from candidus (“dazzling white, shining, clear”) + -ātus, -āta, -ātum (participial adjective-forming suffix), in reference to Roman candidates wearing bleached white togas as a symbol of purity at a public forum. By surface analysis, candid + -ate (noun-forming suffix).
From Latin candidātus (“dressed in white”, adjective); see Etymology 1 for further derivations. By surface analysis, candid + -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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