Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Participation \Par*tic`i*pa"tion\, n. [F. participation, L.
   participatio.]
   1. The act or state of participating, or sharing in common
      with others; as, a participation in joy or sorrows.

            These deities are so by participation. --Bp.
                                                  Stillingfleet.

            What an honor, that God should admit us into such a
            blessed participation of himself!     --Atterbury.

   2. Distribution; division into shares. [Obs.] --Raleigh.

   3. community; fellowship; association. [Obs.] --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

participation
     n 1: the act of sharing in the activities of a group; "the
          teacher tried to increase his students' engagement in
          class activities" [syn: {engagement}, {involvement}, {involution}]
          [ant: {non-engagement}, {non-engagement}, {non-engagement}]
     2: the condition of sharing in common with others (as fellows
        or partners etc.) [syn: {involvement}]