A nominator is the person who proposes someone for an award, office or honor. A nominee is the person who has been proposed. In the nominator vs nominee question, the nominator does the nominating, and the nominee receives it.
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Nominator vs nominee confuses plenty of people, especially when award season or an election arrives. Both words come from the same root, so they look alike, but they name opposite sides of the same action. One person nominates, and the other is nominated. Here is how to tell them apart, with examples and a few memory tricks.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominator | A person who nominates someone | Noun (the doer) | The nominator sent a letter backing her for the prize. |
| nominator | A person in whose name a horse is entered for a race | Noun (horse racing) | The nominator entered the horse in the spring race. |
| nominee | A person who has been nominated | Noun (the receiver) | She is the party’s nominee for governor. |
| nominee | A person nominated for an award or honor | Noun | He was a nominee for Best Actor. |
| nominee | A person named to receive money or benefits on someone’s behalf | Noun (banking, insurance) | She named her brother as the nominee on her account. |
| nominate | To propose someone for an honor or office | Verb | We nominate Priya for team captain. |
What does nominator mean?
A nominator is the person who nominates, meaning the one who proposes someone for an office, award or honor. It is a noun built from the verb “nominate” plus the ending “-or,” which marks someone who does an action.
- The nominator explained why she deserved the teaching award.
- Each nominator must submit a short statement supporting the candidate.
In horse racing, a nominator is also the person in whose name a horse is entered for a race. In most everyday writing, though, the word simply means the person doing the proposing.
What does nominee mean?
A nominee is the person who has been nominated. It is the noun for the one chosen to be put forward for an office, an election or an honor.
- Office: The president named a nominee for the Supreme Court.
- Election: The party’s nominee for governor gave a speech tonight.
- Honor: He was a nominee for an Academy Award.
The ending “-ee” marks the person who receives the action, as in employee or interviewee.
Nominator vs nominee: which one should you use?
Use nominator for the person doing the proposing, and nominee for the person being proposed. Two quick checks settle most cases:
- Who is making the proposal? That person is the nominator.
- Who is waiting to hear the result? That person is the nominee.
For example: “The nominator wrote a letter, and the nominee thanked her.” The two roles are always different people unless someone nominates themselves.
Is a nominee the same as a winner?
No. A nominee has only been put forward, and may or may not go on to win. In an awards show, five nominees might compete for one trophy, so four of them won’t win it.
That is why you should say “nominees” when talking about the shortlist, and “winner” or “recipient” once the result is announced.
What does nominee mean in banking and insurance?
In banking and insurance, a nominee is usually a person you name to receive money or benefits if something happens to you. The details depend on local law and on the product, so check your own policy or account terms.
The word keeps its core idea: the nominee is the one who has been named. If you fill in a form that asks for a nominee, you are choosing the person, and you are the one doing the nominating.
What are the most common nominator vs nominee mistakes?
The nominators for Best Actor will be announced tonight.
The nominees for Best Actor will be announced tonight.
She was the nominator for Best Director and waited nervously for the results.
She was the nominee for Best Director and waited nervously for the results.
As the nominee, he wrote a letter backing his colleague.
As the nominator, he wrote a letter backing his colleague.
Every nominee must explain why they picked their candidate.
Every nominator must explain why they picked their candidate.
The nominator won the award last night.
The nominee won the award last night.
How can you remember which one to use?
- The -or / -ee trick: “-or” does the action, and “-ee” receives it. Employer and employee follow the same pattern as nominator and nominee.
- The “name” trick: both words come from the Latin word for “name.” The nominator names someone, and the nominee is the one named.
- The “picks and is picked” trick: the nominator picks, and the nominee is picked.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a nominator and a nominee?
A nominator is the person who proposes someone for an honor or office. A nominee is the person who has been proposed.
Is a nominee the same as a winner?
No. A nominee has only been put forward, and may or may not go on to win.
Is nominator a real word?
Yes. Dictionaries list nominator as a noun meaning one who nominates.
Can you nominate yourself?
Often yes, but it depends on the rules. Some awards and elections allow self-nomination, while others require someone else to nominate you.
What does nominee mean on a bank account?
In banking and insurance, a nominee is usually a person you name to receive benefits if something happens to you. The details depend on local law and the product.
Conclusion
The nominator vs nominee question comes down to who acts and who receives: the nominator proposes, and the nominee is proposed. Remember that “-or” does and “-ee” receives. Share this with someone who mixes these up.