1. A politician who is running for public office
   "The candidate travelled across the state, giving speeches and meeting voters";
   - campaigner, nominee
    
2. Someone who is considered for something (for an office, prize or honour etc.)
   "She was a strong candidate for the promotion";
   - prospect
    
3. [Brit] Someone who is tested (as by an intelligence test or an academic examination)
   "The candidate nervously awaited the results of the entrance exam";
   - testee, examinee

Derived forms: candidates

Type of: actor, answerer, doer, pol [N. Amer, informal], political leader, politician, politico [informal], pollie [Austral, informal], polly [Austral, informal], respondent, responder, worker

Encyclopedia: Candidate