Synonyms

participation

American

[pahr-tis-uh-pey-shuhn] / pɑrˌtɪs əˈpeɪ ʃən /

noun

an act or instance of participating.
the fact of taking part, as in some action or attempt.

participation in a celebration.
a sharing, as in benefits or profits.

participation in a pension plan.

adjective

of or relating to a venture characterized by more than one person, bank, or company participating in risk or profit.

a participation loan.

Other Word Forms

preparticipation noun
underparticipation noun

Etymology

Origin of participation

First recorded in 1325–75; from Late Latin participātiōn-, stem of participātiō; equivalent to participate + -ion; replacing Middle English participacioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, as above

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 smaller pool of potential workers, combined with lower participation rates within that pool, could lead to labor shortages in some areas, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Fidelity said it has seen strong participation by Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

"We are seeing a gradual but important shift from places being understood mainly as seasonal visitor destinations, to places that can support year-round economic activity, social participation and knowledge exchange," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Google declined to renew when the contract expired, and subsequently published AI principles explicitly ruling out participation in weapons systems.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Her participation in these ancient rites helped her to earn the approval and respect of her subjects.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023