applicant

noun

ap·​pli·​cant ˈa-pli-kənt 

: one who applies

a job applicant

Synonyms

• applier
• aspirant
• campaigner
• candidate
• contender
• expectant
• hopeful
• prospect
• seeker

Examples of applicant in a Sentence

We interviewed 30 qualified applicants for the job.

have numerous applicants for the job

Recent Examples on the Web

About 84% of applicants to 3-K for this fall received an offer to one of up to 12 choices, admissions data show. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 25 June 2024

All of the 11 other applicants who lost out challenged the decision, including Moton Hopkins. —News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2024

These fairs, which were originally created to speed up processing times for first time applicants, will be held this summer in Arizona, California, Florida, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2024

The macro picture for higher education is daunting, with the pool of college applicants expected to shrink starting in 2025 due to a decline in birth rates nationally. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

applicate "to apply, put to use" (borrowed from Latin applicātus, past participle of applicāre "to bring into contact [with], situate near, bring to bear [on]") + -ant entry 1 — more at apply

First Known Use

circa 1742, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

applicant

noun

ap·​pli·​cant ˈap-li-kənt 

: one who applies for something

an applicant for work