From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishalso-ranˈalso-ran noun [countable] FAILsomeone who fails to win a competition, election etc Ten months ago he was just an also-ran for the Democratic nomination.
Examples from the Corpus
also-ran• Both projects, and more besides, aim to make Microsoft an also-ran in tomorrow's markets.• Skilful individuals such as Gazza are very much also-rans, though they do have their uses.• The McLaren-Honda partnership, which had dominated F1 racing since 1988, was relegated to the role of also-rans.• He warrants only passing references, as if he were some also-ran in the race toward musical greatness.• It would have taken a match of some note to have lifted this last weekend of the Championship out of the also-ran trough.• We know only the pain of the also-ran, for ever in the shadow of the siren.• Buchanan, who did best among the three also-rans, got only 14 percent.• On the other hand, several of Sridevi's films were also-rans. 