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candidato

candidate

noun kahn-dee-DAH-toh Less Common
People & Society Politics

Origin: from Latin candidatus 'clothed in white'

Also means

applicant

Usage Note

Candidato covers both an election candidate and a job applicant. The feminine is candidata; in electoral contexts you often hear candidarsi ('to run, to stand') as the reflexive verb. Ancient Roman office-seekers wore a whitened toga, hence the Latin root.

Examples

"Il candidato ha vinto le elezioni."

Natural Translation

The candidate won the election.

Literal Translation

The candidate has won the elections.

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