1. A person who is proposed for an office, membership, award, or like title or status. • An individual seeking nomination, election, or appointment is a candidate. A candidate for election becomes a nominee after being formally nominated. See CANDIDATE.
2. A person designated to act in place of another, usu. in a very limited way.
3. A party who holds bare legal title for the benefit of others or who receives and distributes funds for the benefit of others.