a politician who is running for public office
"The party announced their nominee for governor last night."
A person named, or designated, by another, to any office, duty, or position; one nominated, or proposed, by others for office or for election to office.
"The party selected the senator as their nominee for president in the upcoming general election."
In plain English: A nominee is someone who has been officially chosen to represent another person's name for an award, vote, or position.
"The committee selected Jane as the nominee to lead the new community project."
Usage: A nominee is the specific individual selected to run for an office or receive a reward, not the act of selecting them. Use this term when referring to candidates before they have officially won their positions.
The word nominee comes from combining Latin nominare (to name or nominate) with the suffix -ee, which indicates a person who is acted upon by another verb. It entered English in the mid-16th century to describe someone formally named for an office, award, or position.