candidate
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a person who is competing for a job or trying to be elected to a position.
a person who seeks or is nominated for an office, position, or membership in an organisation.
Simple“The company interviewed five candidates for the manager position.”
In context“The presidential candidate spent the final week of the campaign touring the swing states to secure undecided voters.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person who is taking an examination or test.
an individual who is being formally assessed or examined, particularly in an academic or professional context.
Simple“Candidates must show their ID cards before entering the exam hall.”
In context“The invigilator reminded the candidates that any attempt to communicate during the examination would result in immediate disqualification.”
Synonymsexamineestudent - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
someone or something that seems suitable for a specific purpose or likely to experience something.
a person or thing regarded as suitable for or likely to undergo a particular fate or treatment.
Simple“This old bridge is a prime candidate for repair work next year.”
In context“Given its history of financial instability, the small airline was considered a likely candidate for a takeover by a larger competitor.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
a student who has finished their classes but is still working on a final project like a dissertation.
a student who has completed all requirements for a doctoral degree except for the dissertation.
Simple“As a PhD candidate, she spends most of her time in the laboratory.”
In context“The department provides a shared office space for doctoral candidates who are in the final stages of writing their dissertations.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'doctoral candidate'.
Synonymsdoctoral student
Usage likely candidate
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.