participant
Americannoun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived 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
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Workshop 6, Part 2
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"Journeys," Vocabulary from Lesson 13
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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.
A 60-year-old woman referred to as "Participant 3" in the study was living with severe, treatment-resistant obesity and persistent food noise.
From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025
The dramatic reduction in signaling seen only in Participant 3 strongly indicated that tirzepatide temporarily suppressed this activity.
From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025
Participant and professional dancer Brandon Galvan describes the class as transformative.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025
Participant Mick Rae said he was "gutted" at the news of the cancellation.
From BBC • Oct. 19, 2024
Participant, the activist film and television studio that has financed Oscar winners like “Spotlight” and socially conscious documentaries like “Food, Inc,” and “Waiting For Superman” is closing its doors after 20 years.
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.
