What does postulant mean?
A postulant is someone who formally seeks a position, appointment, or membership. The term is particularly associated with religious life: a person entering a religious community may be described as a postulant while undergoing preparation and discernment, and candidates for the priesthood may also be called postulants. The word conveys a sense of candidacy that is more formal and often more extended than that of applicant, suggesting that the person is being considered for a role requiring training, evaluation, or commitment. In a specialized theological context, a postulant is someone who advances a proposition for belief. Because the term is uncommon outside religious, academic, and historical settings, using it in everyday conversation usually adds a learned or institutional tone. Even so, it is a precise word for a candidate who is being considered for something beyond simple employment.
A candidate for a position, office, or membership, especially an applicant seeking admission to a religious community or the priesthood.
"Each postulant was asked to describe how the community might support her ministry."
Especially common in religious and ecclesiastical contexts; more formal than applicant in general use.
In theological usage, a person who advances or maintains a proposition as a basis for belief.
"The philosopher examined each postulant in the proposed system of doctrine."
This is a specialized and relatively uncommon sense.
The standard plural is postulants. The word is used mainly in formal, religious, ecclesiastical, and specialized theological contexts.
"The religious order welcomed four new postulants after their interviews."
A postulant is more than an applicant: the word often evokes someone undergoing a period of testing or preparation before being admitted to a demanding role or community.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does postulant come from?
Postulant comes from the Latin present participle postulans, meaning “demanding” or “requesting,” from the verb postulare, “to ask for, demand, or propose.” In English, the word developed primarily in religious and legal contexts to mean a person making a formal request for admission or office. The related English words postulate and postulation come from the same Latin root and refer to proposing something for acceptance or belief.
Related word forms
How postulant is actually used
The word is formal and relatively uncommon in general conversation. It is especially established in religious communities, where it denotes someone seeking admission or preparing for membership. In theological writing, its second sense is uncommon.
Easily confused with postulant
A postulant is a person seeking a position or membership, whereas a postulate is a proposition proposed for acceptance or belief, or the act of proposing it.
A postulant is a candidate for an office or group, while a petition is a formal request or document seeking a change or official action.