entrant

An entrant is a person or organization that enters something, such as a competition, examination, contest, or selection process. The term emphasizes the act of entering rather than winning and is used to identify participants who have submitted entries or registrations. An entrant may be assigned an entry number or name for tracking during the process.

In competitions and contests, entrants may need to meet eligibility criteria, pay fees, or comply with specific rules. The status of entrant is usually maintained through registration and initial rounds, with some events distinguishing entrants from finalists or winners. The term is commonly used in official rules, scoring, and reporting to denote individuals or teams that have submitted an entry.

In economics and business, a market entrant refers to a company, product, or service that begins operating in a new market. Entrants encounter barriers to entry, such as capital requirements, regulation, or established incumbents. Analyses of entrants consider factors like strategies, potential market share, pricing, and innovation, as these influence competition and overall market dynamics.

Originating from the French entrer, entrant is formed with the agent noun suffix -ant, meaning one who enters. It is used primarily as a noun to describe a participant in a process or contest. Related terms include entry (the act of entering) and entrant qualifiers such as “new entrant,” which describe someone or something newly entering a field or market.