participation

American

[pahr-tis-uh-pey-shuhn] / pɑrˌtɪs əˈpeɪ ʃən /

noun

an act or instance of participating.
the fact of taking part, as in some action or attempt.

participation in a celebration.
a sharing, as in benefits or profits.

participation in a pension plan.

adjective

of or relating to a venture characterized by more than one person, bank, or company participating in risk or profit.

a participation loan.

Other Word Forms

preparticipation noun
underparticipation noun

Etymology

Origin of participation

First recorded in 1325–75; from Late Latin participātiōn-, stem of participātiō; equivalent to participate + -ion; replacing Middle English participacioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, as above

Explanation

Participation in extracurricular activities makes you a well-rounded person. Getting involved in different groups and pursuits is not only educational, but also an opportunity to make lifelong friends. Notice that the first syllable in this noun is part-, as in, “take part.” Participation is the act of participating, or being related to a larger whole. Another word for this is involvement. A person can enjoy participation in a club, a celebration, or even a conversation.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing participation

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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Sports and Hobbies

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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 5)

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This pattern echoes findings from Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count, which saw record participation from more than 125,000 people, yet reported only average butterfly numbers per count.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Acree notes that Intel’s Terafab participation could increase the chances of landing a major customer.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

“I did that multiple times. I’ve never in my life denied participation of practice. Whoever came up with that is disrespectful toward what I’ve done for this team and the way I carry myself.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Participants were included only if their weight had been measured at least three times, such as during early pregnancy, military conscription, or participation in research studies.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2026

“You know those ribbons are just participation awards, right?”

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023