participant
Americannoun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
“I believe in entrepreneurial freedom,” Bardella told the gathering, according to a participant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Film critic Jenna Ipcar has described how “a perfect comedy duo will make their audience feel like a lucky participant instead of just a passive observer, a welcome guest in a secret world.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
He was an active participant in defending Andrew Tate, using his influence to validate an accused predator because it fit the edgy, anti-establishment aesthetic of the modern manosphere media.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
Based on current knowledge of hearing and the results of the participant tests, Drexl believes the most likely explanation has two parts.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
No. She is not a passive participant, being acted upon.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Essex Police has described the demonstrations as mostly peaceful, with participants exercising their right to protest.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Costumed participants danced and waved from a colourful flotilla of 80 decorated vessels as they made their way through the city's waterways.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
Rimpac, founded by Australia, Canada and the U.S., started in 1971 with five participants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Among some participants, sleeping for fewer hours was associated with a faster decline in grey matter.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026
He had the foresight to understand and accept that all the people of South Africa must, through negotiations and as equal participants in the process, together determine what they want to make of their future.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
