‘ Attendees’?

Attendees for me.
No idea if the other (rather ugly word) is acceptable today or not!

I would say attendees.

I think attender is British English and attendee is American. However the former came to mean someone who looks after another and so the latter became into common usage to mean someone who attends.Interesting how language evolves.

What about attendants?

I definitely wouldn’t say attenders

Attender has come to mean ‘one who attends to others’

I think of an attendant as an assistant. Oh, this is getting very complex.😹😹

It’s been common in the UK since the 1970s at least. There are other -ee suffixes which suggest actions, including retiree, of course.

I would say attendant for somebody attending for the purpose of providing care.

Greenfinch

I think of an attendant as an assistant. Oh, this is getting very complex.😹😹

Yes, it is funny. And you usually end up changing your mind several times

Yes Fanny. I thought I knew the difference but now I am not so sure.

I think they're both rather ugly words, but I would use 'attendee'. It follows the same logic as 'employer' 'employee, 'detainer', 'detainee'...

I'm wondering where would 'attendant' fit in? English is capable of such nuance.

Right, I’m firmly planting my ‘attendee’ flag. Final answer

Oops. I see that 'attendant' has already been discussed. Ignore me...

Agreed!

With Fanny

MaizieD

I think they're both rather ugly words, but I would use 'attendee'. It follows the same logic as 'employer' 'employee, 'detainer', 'detainee'...

I'm wondering where would 'attendant' fit in? English is capable of such nuance.

You see, I don’t think it does follow the same logic!
I employ you, so I am the employer, you are the employee.
I detain you, so I am the detainer, you are the detainee.
If I attend you,( as in wait on), I am the attendant, you are the attendee
If I attend a function, I am an attender surely?

I need to lie down now!

What's wrong with 'guests' since they've been invited?

Or 'invitees', 'people going/attending' ...

Someone might be invited but not attend …

I was just going to say guests as they are recipients of invitations.

How about "those attending" ? It is only one word more than "attendees" or "attenders" and is a LOT better than "attendants" which reminds me of lavatory attendants, sitting in a little cubbyhole with a saucer of small change in front of them , occasionally emerging to replace a loo roll or mop up an accident.

"Attendees" is the accepted word, even though it is illogical.

The more I think about this, the more I feel I'd rearrange the sentence to avoid the word!

How about this?

Attendee means, "a person who attends a meeting, etc." Attender is a word that is used especially in British English to mean, "a person who goes to a place or an event, often on a regular basis.

Do this muddy the waters even more? 😉

“Guests”. ?