also-ran
noun
al·so-ran
ˈȯl(t)-(ˌ)sō-ˌran 
ˈȯ-
1
: a horse or dog that finishes out of the money in a race
2
: a contestant that does not win
3
: one that is of little importance especially competitively
was just an also-ran in the scramble for … privileges—
C. A. Buss
C. A. BussExamples of also-ran in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In most polls asking voters to list the issues that will influence their choice in next week’s presidential election, foreign policy fares little better than an also-ran.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Oct. 2024
Day two was dedicated to the also-rans—when Nikki Haley took the stage, she was met with some interruptive boos and a post-internet pink backdrop that complemented the flowers on her dress.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Those shops are being operated by Brown's Super Stores, which is owned by Jeff Brown, a mayoral also-ran.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
Straight country and hip-hop tend to be also-rans when voters are casting ballots in these top four categories, which covers most of the other outside-chancers.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for also-ran 
Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Oct. 2024
Day two was dedicated to the also-rans—when Nikki Haley took the stage, she was met with some interruptive boos and a post-internet pink backdrop that complemented the flowers on her dress.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Those shops are being operated by Brown's Super Stores, which is owned by Jeff Brown, a mayoral also-ran.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024
Straight country and hip-hop tend to be also-rans when voters are casting ballots in these top four categories, which covers most of the other outside-chancers.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for also-ran
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'also-ran.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/also-ran. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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