contestant

noun

con·​tes·​tant kən-ˈte-stənt How to pronounce contestant (audio)
also ˈkän-ˌte-
Synonyms of contestantnext
1
: one that participates in a contest
2
: one that contests an award or decision

Synonyms of contestant

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now, is using paper towels a little lackluster compared with last year’s Abbott Elementary crossover challenge, where the contestants had to use school supplies? — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026 Some have compared the structure to 'The Hunger Games,' but the contestants disagree. — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The latest contestant in this recurring game of fiscal stupidity is Miami. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026 Some of the contestants beaned the target in three throws, making the dunk tank a popular challenge for Hobart’s Little League set during the city’s National Night Out celebration at County Line Orchard Tuesday evening. — Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contestant

Word History

Etymology

contest entry 1 + -ant entry 1

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contestant was in 1665

Rhymes for contestant

See All Rhymes for contestant

Browse Nearby Words

contestable
contestant
contestation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contestant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contestant. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

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

More from Merriam-Webster on contestant

Nglish: Translation of contestant for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All