participant

[pahr-tis-uh-puhnt]

noun

1. a person or group that participates; partaker.

   Synonyms: colleague, contributor, associate, participator

adjective

1. participating; sharing.

Other Word Forms

• participantly adverb
• unparticipant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of participant¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin participant-, stem of participāns “sharing,” present participle of participāre “to share”; participate

Example Sentences

By examining stool samples and prescription data from more than 2,500 participants in the Estonian Biobank’s Microbiome cohort, scientists discovered that most drugs they analyzed were associated with measurable changes in the gut microbiome.

Read more on Science Daily

As private assets enter mainstream retirement plans, participants must weigh opportunity against complexity.

Read more on MarketWatch

A “few participants” also said they would have supported leaving the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate unchanged, the minutes showed.

Read more on MarketWatch

Its participation fee is orders of magnitude less than other fairs, making it a particularly attractive proposition for participants: small galleries showing emerging artists.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The book’s complex subject matter benefits from historical detours and more contemporary material, including an account of how the participants in the popular TV show “The Biggest Loser” have fared through the years.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• colleague 
• member 
• partner 
• party 
• player 
• shareholder