also-rans
|al-so-rans|
🇺🇸
/ˈɔlsoʊræn/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːlsəʊræn/
(also-ran)
participated but lost
Etymology
'also-ran' originates from American English, specifically coined in the early 20th century as a literal combination of 'also' + 'ran', where 'also' meant 'in addition' and 'ran' is the past tense of 'run'.
'also-ran' developed from informal racing commentary describing horses that 'also ran' (i.e., finished a race but did not place) and eventually became the modern English compound 'also-ran' used more broadly for unsuccessful competitors.
Initially, it meant 'one who ran in a race but did not win', but over time it evolved into the broader current meaning of 'a competitor or candidate who is unsuccessful or regarded as insignificant'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a competitor or candidate who participated but failed to win or place; a loser in a race, contest, or election.
In the mayoral race the incumbent won by a landslide while the also-rans trailed far behind.
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Noun 2
a person or thing regarded as insignificant or unlikely to succeed; someone who attracts little attention or respect.
In the tech industry shakeout, many start-ups became also-rans rather than market leaders.
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Last updated: 2025/11/18 21:42