candidacy

IPA/ˈkændɪdəsi/
KK[kˈændɪdəsi]IPA/ˈkændɪdəsi/

candidacy — noun

  • candidacysingular
  • candidaciesplural

1. the official position of having publicly stated that you want to be chosen for a

1.nounB1
Definition

the official position of having publicly stated that you want to be chosen for a political role or other position through a voting process

Example

Priya announced her candidacy for the local school board last Tuesday morning.

announce + possessive + candidacy + for + position

The senator's candidacy for president attracted volunteers from every state in the region.

candidacy for president; possessive subject

Common collocations
  • announce one's candidacy
  • declare one's candidacy
  • withdraw one's candidacy
  • candidacy for president / governor / mayor
  • launch one's candidacy
  • formal candidacy
Synonyms
  • candidature

    British English equivalent; identical meaning and use

  • nomination

    different — nomination is the act of being formally proposed as a candidate; candidacy is the state that follows

Grammar Patterns

candidacy for + position

possessive + candidacy

announce/declare/withdraw + possessive + candidacy

Usage Note

Uncountable noun — do not say 'a candidacy' as a countable item. Use 'announce/declare/withdraw one's candidacy for + position'. The British English variant 'candidature' is used in the same way.

Common Mistakes

He submitted his candidacy for class president last week.
He announced his candidacy for class president last week.
'submit' suggests a formal application; 'candidacy' is declared, not submitted.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Candidacy is the general term for the state of trying to be elected to a position. Candidature means the same but is chiefly British English — a US writer would say 'announced her candidacy' while a UK writer might say 'announced her candidature'. Nomination is the earlier step: being put forward by others as a suitable candidate. You receive a nomination, but you hold a candidacy. Application is broader — it applies to jobs, schools, and grants where you submit documents rather than stand for election. For instance, 'She submitted her application for the teaching job' but 'She announced her candidacy for city council'.

candidature ↗nomination ↗application ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • announce one's candidacy for
  • withdraw one's candidacy from
  • declare one's candidacy for
  • pursue a candidacy
  • endorse someone's candidacy

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Candidacy comes from Latin candidatus, meaning 'one who is dressed in white'. In ancient Rome, men running for public office wore bright white togas (candidus = 'bright white, shining') as a symbol of purity and honesty. The word entered English in the early 1600s, first as 'candidate' and later 'candidacy' for the state or position of being a candidate.