participant

American  

[pahr-tis-uh-puhnt] / pɑrˈtɪs ə pənt /

noun

• participants
  plural

1. 

   a person or group that participates; partaker.

   Synonyms:

   colleague, contributor, associate, participator

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adjective

1. participating; sharing.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unparticipant
  adjective
• participantly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• participants
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of participant

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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

participant participants

Sosnoff is a bit more measured in his final assessment, quoting a participant as saying, “We haven’t buried the hatchet yet, but it’s been put away in the closet,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Afterward, each participant receives a “Super Age,” a number based on their performance that day and their self-reported lifestyle habits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Using a single blind crossover design, every participant spent two weeks using Hinoki root essential oil and another two weeks using an unscented control.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

"It was over in an instant. I almost wish I could have slept a little longer," participant Chisato Honda, 32, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

The grand jury was unwilling to be a passive participant in this injustice.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield

"This Saturday, October 17, will be a celebration of our collective power. Walk together to the polls. Organize rides. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family," she urged participants.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Some of the participants took pride in cleaning up after every night.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Using these brief snapshots, the researchers tested whether patterns of brain activity could predict two different outcomes: how emotionally intense participants found a picture and whether they would remember that picture the following day.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

All participants had a live conversation with a clinician and a professional interpreter, simulating the informational discussion of the risks and benefits which typically precedes myeloma treatment.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

When the normal participants looked at the chair, however, they used a completely different and less powerful part of the brain—the inferior temporal gyrus—which is normally reserved for objects.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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Related Words

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

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