contestant

noun

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

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.
The summer heat arrived early on Peacock's Love Island USA Season 7 premiere, which aired on Tuesday with a 40-minute delay, high-stakes drama, and an off-screen scandal that has fans calling for a contestant's removal. Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025 Jeremiah Brown, a 25-year-old from Seattle, Washington, was one of 10 original contestants on Love Island USA Season 7 who joined on Day 1. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 4 June 2025 The trailer picks up where Season 2’s cliffhanger left off, with Gi-Hun (Player 456) witnessing the death of his best friend and learning the truth about the Front Man, who pretended to be a contestant during the second season. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2025 This was a contestant who knew he was destined to win from the very first performance. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for contestant

Word History

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contestant was in 1665

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contestant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contestant. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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