What does frontrunner mean?
A frontrunner is the participant in a race, election, competition, or similar contest who is judged most likely to win, whether by holding the lead or by showing clearly superior prospects. The term is ubiquitous in political reporting, where candidates polling ahead of their rivals are routinely described as frontrunners, and it appears just as naturally in coverage of sports, awards contests, and corporate bidding wars. Originating in early twentieth-century America, apparently in the context of horse racing, the word has since become standard throughout the English-speaking world. Being labelled the frontrunner is generally a mark of strength, but the label carries its own burden: frontrunners attract heightened scrutiny, and commentators often note how frequently they stumble under the weight of expectation. Related terms sharpen the contrast — the underdog trails expectations, the long shot seems unlikely to win at all, and the also-ran finishes without contending. For anyone following elections or competitive fields of any kind, frontrunner is an essential word for describing who leads and why.
nounThe contestant, candidate, or competitor considered most likely to win a race, election, or contest; the person or thing currently leading in a competition.
- The competitor regarded as most likely to win a race, election, or other contest.
- (Less commonly) a horse that habitually runs at or near the front of the field from the start.
"Weeks before the vote, she had established herself as the clear frontrunner for the nomination."
"She has been the frontrunner for the championship since her record-breaking performance in May."
"Polling well ahead of his rivals, he was widely described as the frontrunner heading into the primaries."
The plural is regular and is used when describing several leading competitors, though typically only one can truly be the single frontrunner at a time.
"The two frontrunners traded accusations throughout the debate."
'Frontrunner' began life at the American racetrack — coined for the horse out in front — before galloping into politics and business, where being called one is both a compliment and a target.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does frontrunner come from?
Frontrunner is an American coinage, formed simply by combining the existing words 'front' and 'runner'. It emerged in the United States in the early twentieth century, with earliest recorded uses connected to horse racing, where the 'frontrunner' was the horse running at the head of the field. From the racetrack the term spread readily to political campaigns and other competitive arenas, and by the mid-twentieth century it was firmly established in general usage. Its component roots are English: 'front' traces back through French ('front') to Latin ('frons', meaning forehead or forepart), while 'runner' derives from the native English verb 'run', giving the word a mixed Latin-Germanic pedigree typical of many modern English compounds.
How frontrunner is actually used
Frontrunner is used across journalism, politics, sports, and business commentary, and is neutral to slightly positive in connotation, though frontrunners are often said to be under particular pressure because they have the most to lose. The term originated in the United States but is now common in British and international usage as well.
Easily confused with frontrunner
A forerunner is someone or something that came before and presaged or paved the way for later developments, whereas a frontrunner is whoever currently leads or is expected to win an ongoing competition.