What does applicant mean?
Word: Applicant
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Applicant means a person who formally asks for something, such as a job, a place at a college, a loan or a passport.
How do you spell applicant?
Syllables: ap - pli - cant
Tricky part: The ending is -ant, not -ent, so applicent is wrong.
Watch out for: applicent, applicint, appliecant
Memory tip: An applicant applies, and a busy ant applies itself to work: picture the ant at the end of applicant filling in a form.
Applicant in a sentence
Example 1: Every applicant for the bank job had to sit a written test first.
Example 2: The college had more than ten thousand applicants for just two hundred seats.
Example 3: Passport applicants must bring the original documents to the office.
Fun Fact
Job advertisements often say 'Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted', which means many people who apply will hear nothing back.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word applicant as used in the sentence:
Each applicant for the school bus driver's post had to pass a driving test.
a) employer
b) passenger
c) candidate
d) examiner
Show answer
c) candidate. An applicant for a post is a candidate for it; the employer is the one who chooses.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The coach in Dublin asked every aplicant for the junior football camp to bring two photographs and a medical certificate.
a) medical
b) photographs
c) aplicant
d) certificate
Show answer
c) aplicant. Applicant starts with app-, with two p's, like apply.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. interveiw 2. qualifcation 3. applicant 4. eligable
a) having the right to do or get something
b) an exam passed or a skill gained
c) someone who has asked to be considered for something
d) a formal meeting at which a candidate is questioned
Show answer
c) someone who has asked to be considered for something. Interview has ie in view, qualification needs an i after f, and eligible ends -ible, leaving applicant.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The bank called each tnicpalap into the room one at a time.
a) applicable
b) appliance
c) application
d) applicant
Show answer
d) applicant. Count them: nine letters, two p's and no o or e, so it cannot be application, applicable or appliance.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Who would be called an applicant?
a) a teacher who marks exam papers
b) a parent who drives to the college
c) a guard at the college gate
d) a student who has filled in a college form
Show answer
d) a student who has filled in a college form
2. An applicant who is shortlisted ____.
a) must send in the form again
b) has been turned down for the post
c) has already been given the job
d) goes on to the next round of selection
Show answer
d) goes on to the next round of selection
