participant

Pluralparticipants

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A person who takes part in an activity or event.

   Every participant in the workshop received a certificate at the end.

   The debate drew participants from more than a dozen universities.

   Similarparticipator

   Oppositespectator, observer

   Note

   A French borrowing that pushed out a native compound. Old English said dǣlnimend, literally "part taker," and the Latin participāns behind the newer word carries much the same idea of taking a part. It usually takes in before the activity: a participant in the debate, in the workshop. Entrant is narrower, suited to someone who has entered a competition. Participator is a close synonym.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A person who serves as a human subject in a scientific experiment, such as a clinical trial.

   Researchers screened each participant for existing health conditions before the trial began.

   Half the participants received the actual drug, while the others received a placebo.

   Similarparticipator

   Note

   Research writing's word for the people a study is carried out with: a research participant, participants randomly assigned to a control arm or a treatment arm. Unlike the everyday sense, the participant here is shaped by the study's design. They are screened, assigned and given a drug or a placebo, as much as they take part. Expect it in methods sections and trial reports, often in the plural.

3. 3
   adjective

   Taking part or sharing in something; having a part or share in it.

   Each participant country sent two delegates to the climate summit in Geneva.

   As a participant observer, she joined in the rituals of the community she was studying.

   Note

   The adjective now stands mostly before a noun, as in a participant observer or the participant countries. It once followed a verb and took of. In 1622 Francis Bacon writes of pardon for all who had "been participant of any attempts" against the king. Modern English fills that slot with participating or taking part instead. It is not comparable, so nothing is called more participant than something else.

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