Candidate meaning : A person who is running in an election. A person who is applying for a job. A participant in an examination. Something or somebody that may be suitable. A gene which may play a role in a given disease. To stand as a candidate for an office, especially a religious one. (chiefly in jargon and NNES) To make or name (something) a candidate (for use, for study as a next project, for investigation as a possible cause of something, etc).