Words / B2

pah-TIS-ip-uh-nt/pɑːˈtɪsɪpənt/

A participant takes part: trial participants, participants in the study, a willing participant. Member is belonging to a group over time; attendee is present at an event; subject is older research language, now often avoided. Participate is the verb (already in the dictionary). In speech, people taking part is enough. Do not call a silent observer a participant, and in ethics forms consent of participants is a set phrase.

Meaning

A person who takes part in an activity, study, or event.

Examples

• “All participants in the trial signed a consent form.”
• “All participants signed a consent form before the first interview.”
• “Viewers were not participants in the debate; they only watched.”

Good to know

a participant in. Verb: participate. Event presence: attendee. Lasting belonging: member. Research: prefer participant to subject.

New