English Explanatory Dictionary

also-ran

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person or animal who competed in a race, or other competition, but did not win.
  2. A loser; a person or thing soon to be forgotten.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-also-ran.wav

Word forms

also-ran also-rans

Etymology

From the world of horse race betting, where lists of winners would be published with non-paying positions printed in a block under the heading “Also Ran”.

Related words

first loser nearly man underdog
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