1. a person or thing that competes for something or has a good chance of winning

Examples

• She is a strong contender for the championship title.
• The young boxer emerged as a serious contender in the heavyweight division.
• Three companies are contenders for the government contract.
• He was considered a top contender for the job promotion.
• The team went from underdogs to legitimate contenders this season.
• Several contenders have thrown their hats into the political race.