entrant

An entrant is a person or group that has joined a competition, contest, draw, or other formal process. You often see the word where people sign up, apply, or put themselves forward for something. A runner in a race, a singer in a talent show, or someone whose name is added to a prize draw can all be called an entrant.

The word can also be used more broadly for someone new to a field, market, school, or profession, especially in formal writing. In all of these cases, the idea is that they have entered something in an official or recognized way.

The word "entrant" refers to a person, group, or organization that has entered a competition, contest, draw, market, school, profession, or other formal area of activity. It is more formal than simply saying "participant" and often suggests that some official step has been taken, such as applying, registering, paying a fee, or meeting entry rules.

You will frequently encounter "entrant" in these contexts:

Competitions:* "The photography contest attracted over 500 entrants from across the globe." Lotteries and Giveaways:* "Each person who completes the survey will be recorded as an entrant in the prize draw." Business and Markets:* "As a new entrant to the electric vehicle market, the startup faces stiff competition from established giants." Education and Careers:* "The university welcomed a record number of first-year entrants this autumn."

Its most common use is for someone who is officially part of a contest or selection process, but it also works for a newcomer to a field or institution. The word points to the moment of joining: a person or group has stepped in and is now part of the race, the draw, the market, or the program. Whether they are hoping for a prize, a place, or a strong start, an entrant is someone newly in the running.