A person or thing that is leading or ahead in a race, competition, or contest, or the one most likely to win.
From front + runner, combining front (earliest, leading position) with runner (one who runs). The term originated in literal racing contexts and was extended metaphorically to describe leaders in any competitive situation.
Frontrunner became especially popular in American politics during the 20th century to describe which presidential candidate was winning in the polls—it's a vivid metaphor because it makes us imagine an actual race!
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