Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Latin
Origin: candidatus, from candidatus 'dressed in white', from candidus ( CANDID); because someone trying to get elected in ancient Rome wore white clothes

candidate

 noun
     
can‧di‧date W2 [countable]
1 someone who is being considered for a job or is competing in an election:
a presidential candidate
candidate for
There are only three candidates for the job.
2 British English someone who is taking an examination:
Candidates are not allowed to use a calculator in this exam.
3 someone or something that is likely to experience or get something
candidate for
The school is an obvious candidate for extra funding.
The novel must be a prime candidate for the award.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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