English Reference
noun

participation

n.
US /pɑɹˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/ UK /pɑːtˈɪsɪpˈeɪʃən/ par·tic·i·pa·tion UK spelling participations

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of joining in or being part of an activity or event.

    the act of participating or taking part in an event, activity, or collective effort.

    Simple

    The teacher encouraged active participation in the classroom discussion.

    In context

    The success of the community garden project relied heavily on the consistent participation of local volunteers throughout the growing season.

    Usage

    Usually takes the preposition 'in'.

    Pitfall
    The participation to the event was high. The participation in the event was high.

    Use the preposition 'in' after participation to show what activity people joined.

    absencenon participationwithdrawal
  2. 02 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal

    the process of letting people give their opinions or help plan a project.

    the systematic involvement of stakeholders or citizens in decision-making processes or project planning.

    Simple

    The government promised more public participation in the new urban planning project.

    In context

    Effective democratic governance requires meaningful public participation rather than merely symbolic consultation sessions.

    Usage

    Often used in political or sociological contexts.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalFormal Law

    having a share in the profits or ownership of a business.

    a right to share in the profits or a specific ownership interest in a financial venture.

    Simple

    The contract included a profit participation clause for the lead investors.

    In context

    The bank secured a participation in the loan syndicate, allowing it to share the risk and the interest returns with other lenders.

Usage active participation · encourage participation · increase participation

In a first, five countries -- Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland -- boycotted the 2026 competition in Vienna over Israel's participation.

The Local· 13 Aug 2026

There are lulls – including an audience participation sequence I’m not sure justifies itself – but far more highs, such as the West Side Story-alike teenage bully dance number.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

From Middle English participacioun, from Middle French [Term?], from Old French participacion, from Late Latin participatiō. By surface analysis, participate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-lat participatiō
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated