captive candidate

noun

A political candidate who is under the control or influence of another person.

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Meanings

nouncaptive candidate (plural captive candidates)

plural captive candidates

  1. derogatorygovernmentA political candidate who is under the control or influence of another person.

    I want to start with an immediate and firm disclaimer. Walter Mondale is not a captive candidate of the “special-interest bosses of labor.”

    1983, ILR Report, volumes 21-22, page 21
    1 more example

    Fortunately — very fortunately — the American people have a happy alternative to this bankrupt Republican campaign and its captive candidate.

    1952, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, page 807
Cite this entry
APA

captive candidate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/captive%20candidate

MLA

“captive candidate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/captive%20candidate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “captive candidate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/captive%20candidate.

Source: captive candidate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.