a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.: a candidate for governor.
2.
a person who is selected by others as a contestant for an office, honor, etc.
3.
a person who is deserving of or seems destined for a certain end or fate: Such a reckless spender is a candidate for the poorhouse.
4.
a student studying for a degree: Candidates for the B.A. will have to meet certain minimum requirements.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to become a candidate for service as a new minister of a church; preach before a congregation that is seeking a new minister.
Origin: 1605–15; < L candidātus clothed in white (adj.), candidate for office (n., in reference to the white togas worn by those seeking office). See candid, -ate1
A person who seeks or is nominated for an office, prize, or honor.
A student who has nearly completed the requirements for a degree.
One that seems likely to gain a certain position or come to a certain fate: young actors who are candidates for stardom; a memorandum that is a good candidate for the trash can.
[Latin candidātus, clothed in white (from the white togas worn by Romans seeking office), candidate, from candidus, white; see candid.] can'di·da·cy (-də-sē), can'di·da·ture' (-də-chŏŏr', -chər) n.
[n. kan-di-deyt, -dit; v. kan-di-deyt] 
noun, verb, -dat⋅ed, -dat⋅ing.
dɪˌdeɪt