contender

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Someone who has a viable chance of winning a competition.

   In April 2014, towards the end of Özil’s first season at Arsenal – which had been marked by highs and lows – Wenger predicted the German would be a contender for the player of the year awards in 2014‑15.

2. 2
   noun

   the contestant you hope to defeat

3. 3
   noun

   Someone who competes with one or more other people.

Etymology

From contend + -er.