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Definition of participatory

participatory

/pɑːrˈtɪs.ə.pəˌtɔːr.i/
par · tic · i · pa · to · ry
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participatory Lexical Profile

participatory Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Characterized by, involving, or affording the opportunity for active participation by multiple people, especially in decision-making, governance, or shared activities.

Example

"The city council adopted a participatory budgeting process that allowed residents to vote directly on local infrastructure projects."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for participatory

• Nearby Words

participation
participative
participator
participatory
participle
particle
particleboard

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 19th century from the Latin stem 'participat-' (past participle of 'participare', meaning 'to share in' or 'to partake of') combined with the adjectival suffix '-ory'. It gained widespread prominence in the 1960s through the political concept of 'participatory democracy'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Participatory. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/participatory
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