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
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.
At some point constitutional rights have to govern ordinary participation in society rather than hypothetical withdrawal from it.
From Slate • May 20, 2026
Being able to claim participation in any record-breaking event is a draw for many people, especially when the world’s wealthiest man alive is involved.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
Cuba’s partner in the Moa Nickel joint venture, said it had “suspended its direct participation in joint venture activities in Cuba, effective immediately.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
Protests also erupted in the 1960s over the participation of Spain under dictator General Francisco Franco, and Portugal under the dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
I know for a fact that Chokecherry Middle School has never seen this level of participation for an extracurricular activity.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
