Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

also-ran

noun

/ˈɔːl.soʊ.ˌræn/

Definition

A competitor who does not win or place in a race or contest; someone who is not successful; a person or thing that is regarded as insignificant or of little importance.

Examples

Despite her efforts, she was just an also-ran in the election.
In the race, several participants were also-rans who finished far behind the front runners.

Meaning

The term ‘also-ran’ refers to someone or something that is not a winner or does not stand out from a group, often used in contexts where there are clear leaders or top performers.