contender

noun

con·​tend·​er kən-ˈten-dər 

: one that contends

especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor

a heavyweight title contender

the leading presidential contenders

Synonyms

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

Examples of contender in a Sentence

There are several contestants, but only two real contenders.

This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, the Democratic contenders notched a symbolic victory when Valimont carried Escambia County — a longtime GOP stronghold in presidential elections — a rare blue dot in the ruby-red district. —Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2025

The court ruling was a political as well as a judicial temblor for France, hobbling one of the leading contenders to succeed President Emmanuel Macron at the end of his second and final term. —Arkansas Online, 1 Apr. 2025

This will start to suss out some of the early contenders. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

This Intamin spinning coaster promises to be the first of its kind and a strong contender for the best new theme park attraction of the year. —Robert Niles, Oc Register, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

contend + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contender

• bartender
• defender
• engender
• extender
• offender
• pretender
• provender
• surrender
• suspender
• transgender
• bender
• blender