Cool MateApplicant vs Candidate vs Contender vs Nominee
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Applicant
Candidate
Contender
Nominee
| Applicant | Candidate | Contender | Nominee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæplɪkənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæplɪkənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈkændɪdət//🇺🇸 //ˈkændɪdɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtendə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtendər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌnɒmɪˈniː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌnɑːmɪˈniː/"]/ |
| Meaning | A person who applies for something, usually a job or school. | A person applying for a job or position. | A person or team that competes for something. | A person who is suggested for a job or honor. |
| Example | There were over 500 applicants for the job. | The candidate impressed the interview panel with her skills. | a contender for a gold medal in the Olympics | He was chosen as the party's presidential nominee. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | noun |
| Collocations | potential, prospective, eligible, seek, attract, shortlist, apply, applicant for | strong candidate, selected candidate, job candidate, preferred candidate | serious, strong, leading, contender for | presidential, Democratic, Republican, choose, select, appoint, nominee for |
| Antonyms | employer, rejector | incumbent | loser, non-contender | elector, voter, opponent |
| Common mistakes | Using 'applicator' instead of 'applicant'., Confusing with 'apply' as a noun., Using 'applicants' for singular contexts. | Confusing with 'candidacy' which refers to the state of being a candidate., Using 'candidate' for something other than people, which is incorrect., Don't use 'candidateships' as it is not a standard term. | Confusing 'contender' with 'pretender' (someone who pretends to be something)., Using 'contender' in non-competitive contexts., Misplacing the word, thinking it can apply to non-human entities like teams or concepts. | Using 'nominating' instead of 'nominee' when referring to a person., Confusing 'nominee' with 'nominator', who is the person suggesting someone., Incorrectly using 'nominee' to refer to an award instead of the person. |
| Usage notes | Used in job applications and admissions processes. It's appropriate in both formal and neutral contexts but may sound stiff in very casual conversations. | Used in job interviews and elections. Not suitable for casual conversations. Typically a formal context. | Use 'contender' when discussing competition, such as sports or awards. It's more appropriate in neutral contexts and less common in informal conversations. | Use 'nominee' in contexts related to awards, elections, or honors. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings but is more common in formal discussions. |
Frequently asked questions: Applicant vs Candidate vs Contender vs Nominee
What's the difference between Applicant, Candidate, Contender, and Nominee?
Applicant: A person who applies for something, usually a job or school. Candidate: A person applying for a job or position. Contender: A person or team that competes for something. Nominee: A person who is suggested for a job or honor.
Are Applicant, Candidate, Contender, and Nominee the same CEFR level?
Applicant: B2, Candidate: B1, Contender: C1, Nominee: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Applicant, Candidate, Contender, and Nominee?
Applicant: noun, Candidate: noun, Contender: noun, Nominee: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Applicant: There were over 500 applicants for the job. Candidate: The candidate impressed the interview panel with her skills. Contender: a contender for a gold medal in the Olympics Nominee: He was chosen as the party's presidential nominee.
Can I use Applicant, Candidate, Contender, and Nominee interchangeably?
Not always. Applicant, Candidate, Contender, and Nominee are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.