candidate
noun
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Roman Fashion Is Responsible for Candidate
When a man running for public office in ancient Rome greeted voters in the Forum, the center of judicial and public business, he wore a toga that had been whitened with chalk. As a result, the Latin word for someone seeking office came to be candidatus, meaning literally "clothed in white." Candidatus, in turn, comes from the adjective candidus, meaning "white." Candidatus was adopted into English as candidate, and since the 17th century that word has had an uncontested seat in the language.
Examples of candidate in a Sentence
Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Besides Robbins, several Republicans have announced plans to seek their party’s gubernatorial nomination, including 2022 gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen and Kendall Qualls, who sought the GOP nomination in 2022.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
That would mean that all political candidates and their opponents would need equal time on air on the network.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
The Ohio conference within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is endorsing Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy — an influential pickup for the former 2024 contender in the race.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for candidate
Cite this Entry
“Candidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candidate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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candidate
noun
from Latin candidatus "candidate," from candidatus (adjective) "dressed in white," from candidus "shining white," from candēre "to be bright, shine" — related to candid, candle
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