有 力 候 補(ゆうりょくこうほ)

ゆうりょくこうほ

noun

leading candidate; strong contender; front-runner

formalpolitics society

1. leading candidate; strong contender; front-runner

A candidate or option that is considered most likely to be chosen, win, or succeed.

彼(かれ)は次期(じき)社長(しゃちょう)の有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ)だ。

He is a leading candidate for the next president.

有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ)が三人(さんにん)いる。

There are three strong contenders.

その都市(とし)はオリンピック開催地(かいさいち)の有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ)と見(み)られている。

That city is seen as a leading candidate to host the Olympics.

A compound of 有力(ゆうりょく) (influential, powerful) + 候補(こうほ) (candidate). Very common in news reporting about elections, competitions, personnel decisions, and selection processes.

Common collocations

有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ)と目(もく)される: to be regarded as a leading candidate
有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ)に挙(あ)がる: to emerge as a strong contender
最(もっと)も有力(ゆうりょく)な候補(こうほ): the most likely candidate
有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ)の一人(ひとり): one of the leading candidates

Similar words

本命(ほんめい): the favorite — implies the one most expected to win, while 有力候補(ゆうりょくこうほ) may refer to one of several strong options
対抗馬(たいこうば): rival candidate — specifically refers to a challenger against the favorite

general

Added 2026.4.7 9:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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