front runner

noun

a person who leads in any competition.

an entrant in a race who breaks to the front immediately and establishes the pace for the field.

an entrant in a race who performs well only when ahead of the field.

Also, front-runner, frontrunner.

Origin

1935-40, Americanism

Slang definitions & phrases for front runner

noun phrase

The leader in a contest, election, etc: That left as front runners Runcie and England's second-ranking churchman (1914+ fr racing)