participant
Americannoun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of participant
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin participant-, stem of participāns “sharing,” present participle of participāre “to share”; see participate
Explanation
A participant is a person who participates, or takes part in something. Vote on Election Day and you've just taken part in or become a participant in United States democracy. Participants play a role in the unfolding of events. A contestant is a participant on a game show. A football player is a participant in the sport. Someone talking is a participant in a conversation. You can sometimes be a participant without taking an active role — if you watch a crime taking place and do nothing to stop it, you might be called a passive participant.
Vocabulary lists containing participant
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Workshop 6, Part 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Journeys," Vocabulary from Lesson 13
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The dramatic reduction in signaling seen only in Participant 3 strongly indicated that tirzepatide temporarily suppressed this activity.
From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025
It added: "On the margins of the Core Participant hearings in June, Irish government officials used the opportunity to convene a meeting to listen to families and survivors of the bombings."
From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025
Participant wellness was measured at the start of the study and after three months.
From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2024
After 20 years, 21 Academy Awards and 18 Emmys, socially conscious film production company Participant is shutting down.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024
Veteran film executive David Linde has been CEO of Participant since 2015, during which they had their “Green Book” and “Roma” successes.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
