entrant
C1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
A person who formally enters or joins a competition, institution, or profession.
A person or entity that begins to participate in or be involved in something new, such as a new market, field of study, or situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a noun to denote a new participant. The focus is on the act of entering, often implying a formal process, test, or competition. The word can be applied to people, companies, or even ideas entering a domain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. 'Entrant' is equally standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in everyday contexts in both varieties. In business contexts (e.g., 'market entrant'), it is standard professional jargon.
Frequency
Equally common in formal registers (news, academia, business) in both BrE and AmE. Less frequent in casual conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
entrant to (an institution)entrant in (a competition)entrant into (a market/profession)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Late entrant to the game (someone who starts participating later than others)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a new company entering a market (e.g., 'The new entrant disrupted the industry with innovative pricing.').
Academic
Used for students newly entering a university or course of study (e.g., 'Entrants must have achieved the required grades.').
Everyday
Mostly for competitions, lotteries, or races (e.g., 'All entrants must complete the form by Friday.').
Technical
In economics for 'market entrants'; in computing for data or a new node entering a system.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She was an entrant in the school art competition.
- All entrants will get a certificate.
- The number of entrants for the marathon has doubled this year.
- New entrants to the university must attend the orientation.
- As a late entrant into the smartphone market, the company faced stiff competition.
- The scholarship is open to all new entrants to the engineering programme.
- Barriers to entry were so high that no new entrant could challenge the incumbent's monopoly.
- The policy aims to facilitate the integration of new entrants into the labour market.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of EN-TRANT like EN-ter + participANT: someone who is entering as a participant.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENTERING A RACE / JOINING A CLUB (The process of entry is conceptualized as crossing a threshold into a bounded space with rules.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'entrance' (вход). 'Entrant' — это лицо, а не место. Близкий русский эквивалент — 'участник' (вступающий), 'новичок', 'абитуриент' (в конкретном контексте).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'entrance' for a person (e.g., 'He was a new entrance to the market' ❌). Confusing with 'entranced' (fascinated).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'entrant' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most commonly used for people, it can also refer to companies or organizations entering a new market (e.g., 'a new market entrant').
'Entrant' emphasises the initial act of joining or entering, often a formal one. 'Participant' is broader and focuses on taking part in an activity, regardless of when they joined.
No, 'entrant' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'enter'.
No, 'entrant' is a gender-neutral noun in English, applicable to any person regardless of gender.
Explore