candidates

noun

A person who seeks to be elected or appointed to a position or privilege.

(figurative) A person who is thought likely or worthy to gain a position or privilege.

A participant in an examination.

Someone or something likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for a purpose.

(education) A student taking a degree who has finished the coursework but has other remaining requirements such as a dissertation.

(education) The recipient of certain academic degrees, now mainly awarded in Scandinavia.

(genetics) A gene which may play a role in a given disease.

verb

To stand as a candidate for an office, typically for a religious one.

(nonstandard, chiefly jargon and non-native speakers' English) To make or name (something) as a candidate (to be chosen or deemed suitable for a purpose).

(obsolete, rare, transitive, figurative) To make white; to whitewash.

Roots

candiduscandid- · Latin · white, bright

Synonyms & related words for candidates

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Words related to candidates

Explore words related to candidates — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include nominee, campaigner, candidacy, noncandidate, candidature, electability, election, electable. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does candidates come from?

The word candidates breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root candid-, from Latin candidus (“white, bright”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.