What does applicant mean?
An applicant is a person who makes a formal request for something — most commonly a job, a place at a university, a grant, or official permission such as a visa or licence. The word belongs to the language of administration and selection: employers speak of reviewing applicants, universities of admitting them, and agencies of processing them. It is deliberately neutral, describing only the act of applying rather than any judgement of merit; those who succeed may be called 'successful applicants', while the whole group under consideration forms the 'applicant pool'. The term derives from the Latin 'applicare', meaning to attach or apply oneself to a task, the same root behind 'apply' and 'application'. Because so much of modern life runs through formal processes — hiring, admissions, permits — 'applicant' is an essential word for anyone navigating institutions, appearing constantly in job adverts, official guidance, and news coverage of competitive selection.
nounA person who makes a formal application for something, such as a job, a place at a school, or official permission.
- A person who formally requests something, such as employment, admission, or a licence.
"Over three hundred applicants applied for the two open positions."
"She was one of fifty applicants shortlisted for the graduate scheme."
"The visa office received a record number of applicants this year."
Standard plural, used when referring to multiple people who have applied.
"All applicants will be notified of the decision by email."
The word 'applicant' traces back to Latin 'applicare' — the same root that gives us 'apply' and even 'appliqué' — meaning it has been 'attaching' people to opportunities for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of applicant
Applicant comes from the Latin verb 'applicare', meaning 'to attach to' or 'to apply oneself to', formed from 'ad-' (toward) plus 'plicare' (to fold). The word entered English via French in the late 15th century, initially carrying the general sense of putting something into contact with something else. Its specific use for a person who formally requests a position or privilege developed as bureaucratic and administrative practices grew, particularly from the 17th century onward. It shares its root with 'apply', 'application', and 'applicable'.
How applicant is actually used
Applicant is a neutral, formal word used chiefly in administrative, professional, and legal contexts. It carries no inherent connotation of success or failure — an applicant is simply someone who has applied. In everyday speech people sometimes say 'candidate' instead, especially in hiring contexts, though 'candidate' can also imply having progressed further in a selection process.
Easily confused with applicant
An application is the formal request or document itself, while an applicant is the person who submits it.
An appellant is someone who appeals a legal decision, whereas an applicant is someone who applies for a job, place, or permission.