Words / B2

pah-tis-i-PAYSHUN/pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/

Participation is the act of taking part: participation in, public participation, labour-force participation. Involvement is close; attendance is being there, not always taking part. Participate is the verb. Uncountable in most academic uses. In speech, taking part is enough. Do not write “a participation” for one person showing up, and do not confuse it with partition (a dividing wall).

Meaning

The act of taking part in something (participation in).

Examples

• “Voter participation was higher among older age groups.”
• “Voter participation rose among first-time voters.”
• “The review criticised the lack of public participation in the planning stage.”

Good to know

participation in (uncountable). Verb: participate. Close: involvement. Being there: attendance. Mix-up: partition. Not “a participation”.

Near in meaning

involvement

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