role

or rôle

[ rohl ]

/ roʊl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR role ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a part or character played by an actor or actress.

proper or customary function: the teacher's role in society.

Sociology. the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social status.

Nearby words

roland, rolandic epilepsy, rolando's area, rolando's fissure, rolando's gelatinous substance, role, role conflict, role model, role set, role strain, role-play

Origin of role

1600–10; < French rôle roll (as of paper) containing the actor's part

SYNONYMS FOR role

2 capacity, position, responsibility, duty.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR role ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsmul·ti·role, adjective

Can be confusedrole roll

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for role

Genetics alone does not an eating disorder make, generally speaking, and Bulik points out that environment still plays a role.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“I have to think her body type played a role,” said Rachel Greenblatt, a Lecturer in Jewish Studies at Harvard University.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Acting legend talks about what role is closest to her heart.
Gena Rowlands on Her Favorite ‘Woman’|The Daily Beast Video|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
David Prowse, the actor who portrayed Darth Vader, wished to come back but had to turn down the role because of ill health.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)|Rich Goldstein|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The role of private investigators has stirred controversy in the investigation.
U.S. Spies Say They Tracked ‘Sony Hackers’ For Years|Shane Harris|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The one role in life in which I fancied you ill at ease you seem to fill to perfection.
The Yellow Crayon|E. Phillips Oppenheim
He was showing signs of being about to step out of the role she had assigned to him and attempt something on a larger scale.
The Man Upstairs|P. G. Wodehouse
Her role is that of child-killer—any child who is suckled in the night by Putana instantly dying.
The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry|W. G. Archer
I smiled at him affectionately before resuming my role as Santa Claus.
Autobiography of a YOGI|Paramhansa Yogananda
The legend of Savage Island places Maui in the role of fire-maker.
Legends of Ma-ui--a demi god of Polynesia, and of his mother Hina|W. D. Westervelt

British Dictionary definitions for role

role

rle

/ (rəʊl) /

noun

a part or character in a play, film, etc, to be played by an actor or actress

psychol the part played by a person in a particular social setting, influenced by his expectation of what is appropriate

usual or customary functionwhat is his role in the organization?

Word Origin for role

C17: from French rôle roll, an actor's script

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for role

role

"part or character one takes," c.1600, from French rôle "part played by a person in life," literally "roll (of paper) on which an actor's part is written," from Old French rolle (see roll (n.)). Meaning "function performed characteristically by someone" is from 1875. In the social psychology sense from 1913. Role model first attested 1957.

Medicine definitions for role

role

n.

The characteristic and expected social behavior of an individual.

role

or rôle

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of role

Examples from the Web for role

British Dictionary definitions for role

role

rle

noun

Word Origin for role

Word Origin and History for role

role

Medicine definitions for role

role

n.