participation
Americannoun
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an act or instance of participating.
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the fact of taking part, as in some action or attempt.
participation in a celebration.
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a sharing, as in benefits or profits.
participation in a pension plan.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Explanation
Participation in extracurricular activities makes you a well-rounded person. Getting involved in different groups and pursuits is not only educational, but also an opportunity to make lifelong friends. Notice that the first syllable in this noun is part-, as in, “take part.” Participation is the act of participating, or being related to a larger whole. Another word for this is involvement. A person can enjoy participation in a club, a celebration, or even a conversation.
Vocabulary lists containing participation
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Sports and Hobbies
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Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 5)
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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.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson is expected to have surgery on the wrist he injured while celebrating his side's last-16 win over Mexico, casting doubt over his participation in the remainder of the World Cup.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
This study relies on ethnographic research: sustained immersion in people’s homes, lives, and communities through extensive interviews, observations, participation, and relationship-building.
From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026
Push participation up, and the figure could be higher.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
The unemployment rate's ticking down was mainly due to a sharp drop in the labor force participation rate to its lowest level since March 2021.
From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026
Some members were openly troubled by C.P.’s participation.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
