applicant
applicant Lexical Profile
applicant Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who formally requests or applies for something, such as employment, admission to an institution, a grant, or a license.
"The hiring committee interviewed the top three applicants for the marketing director position."
In law, a party who petitions a court or tribunal for an order, decree, or relief.
"The court ordered the applicant to submit supporting affidavits before the preliminary hearing."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably with 'candidate,' an applicant is specifically someone who actively initiates a request (by submitting an application), whereas a candidate may be nominated, recruited, or selected by others without applying.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 15th century, derived from Latin applicans, the present participle of applicare ('to attach or join to'), from ad- ('to') and plicare ('to fold').