Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Candidate has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
a politician who is running for public office
"The local candidate promised to lower taxes if elected mayor."
A person who is running in an election.
"After months of campaigning, the local candidate finally secured enough votes to win the seat on the city council."
In plain English: A candidate is someone who is running for an election or applying for a job.
"The job candidate waited nervously for the interviewer to call his name."
Usage: Use candidate to refer to any person seeking a position or office, whether through an official election or a competitive selection process. It applies broadly to job applicants and award nominees, not just political races.
To stand as a candidate for an office, especially a religious one.
"The local bishop has officially announced his candidacy for the vacant archbishopric in the diocese."
In plain English: To be a candidate is to officially run for a job or position.
"The company will soon candidate the new software for release."
Usage: Use "to candidate" only when referring to formally proposing someone for a specific position, such as nominating them for a church office or election. In standard modern English, it is far more common and correct to use the verb "nominate" instead.
The word candidate comes from the Latin candidātus, which originally described Roman politicians who wore bright white togas to symbolize their purity while seeking public office. English adopted the term to refer to anyone standing for election, keeping its connection to the distinctive white clothing of ancient candidates.