participation

/pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/

//pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"participation" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“participation” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,102 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,102
frequency rank, English
13
letters
20
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The act of participating, of taking part in something.

Key facts for participation
PropertyValue
Headwordparticipation
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/
Letters13
Frequency rank#4,102
Misspellings tracked20
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “participation” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). participation lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for participation is 13 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,102 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 20 likely wrong-spelling variants for participation, with forms such as "aprticipation", "paritcipation", and "parrticipation". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English participacioun, from Middle French [Term?], from Old French participacion, from Late Latin participatiō. By surface analysis, participate + -ion. The correct English form is participation, spelled P-A-R-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    The act of participating, of taking part in something.
  2. 2
    The state of being related to a larger whole.
  3. 3
    The process during which individuals, groups and organizations are consulted about or have the opportunity to become actively involved in a project or program of activity.
  4. 4
    An ownership interest or profit-sharing right.

Etymology

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

This word in other languages

participación(Español)participation(Français)Partizipation(Deutsch)participação(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aprticipation,paritcipation,parrticipation,partciipation,particcipation,particiaption,participaiton,participasion,participatino,participationn,participatoin,participattion,particippation,participtaion,particpiation,partiicpation,partticipation,patricipation,pparticipation,praticipation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of participation - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

aprticipation2paritcipation2parrticipation1partciipation2particcipation1particiaption2participaiton2participasion1
Edit distance from "participation"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "participation"?
"participation" is spelled P-A-R-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is /pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/.
What does "participation" mean?
As a noun, "participation" means: The act of participating, of taking part in something.
What are common misspellings of "participation"?
Common misspellings include "aprticipation", "paritcipation", "parrticipation", "partciipation", "particcipation". The correct spelling is "participation".
How do you pronounce "participation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "participation" is /pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "participation"?
From Middle English participacioun, from Middle French [Term?], from Old French participacion, from Late Latin participatiō. By surface analysis, participate + -ion. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “participation”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-A-R-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pɑːˌtɪs.ɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list