contestant

noun

con·​tes·​tant kən-ˈte-stənt 

 also  ˈkän-ˌte-

1

: one that participates in a contest

2

: one that contests an award or decision

Synonyms

• challenger
• competition
• competitor
• contender
• corrival
• rival

Examples of contestant in a Sentence

The contestant who catches the most fish wins.

The winning contestants will receive a cash prize.

Recent Examples on the Web

In honor of the Calgary Stampede, an outdoor rodeo held there since 1912, and its pancake-breakfast tradition, the contestants have to cook a handheld pancake that the judges (and 50 diners!) can eat without utensils. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2025

The 24-year-old influencer was announced as the second contestant for the upcoming season of the competitive dance series and stopped by Good Morning America on Thursday, May 22 to celebrate her casting. —Julia Moore, People.com, 22 May 2025

The series features a fully interactive format with a live chat feature that allows viewers to engage directly with contestants. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 May 2025

Every season, Entertainment Weekly gets an exclusive pre-finale interview with the last contestants standing to gain a little insight in what has transpired on the island in the first 23 days. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 21 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

contest entry 1 + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for contestant

• decongestant

Kids Definition

contestant

noun

con·​test·​ant

kən-ˈtes-tənt,

 also  ˈkän-ˌtes-

: a person who takes part in a contest

Legal Definition

contestant

noun

con·​tes·​tant

: one that initiates or participates in a contest