role

Rarely rôle

[rohl]

noun

1. a part or character played by an actor or actress.

2. proper or customary function.

   the role of religion in society.

   Synonyms: duty, responsibility, position, function, capacity, part, character

3. the function assumed by a person or thing in a given action or process.

   Schools offer few practical tools to help students explore their role in shaping the future.

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

   When studying child development, it was critical to study the father's role.

role

/ rəʊl /

noun

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

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

3. usual or customary function

   what is his role in the organization?

Other Word Forms

• multirole adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of role¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from French rôle “roll (of paper containing the actor's part)”; roll

Word History and Origins

Origin of role¹

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

Example Sentences

Mr. Uranowitz brings a fitting wry humor to the role, even as Tateh endures his own violent attack after becoming caught up in a strike.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Witherspoon, 49, is best known for roles in Legally Blonde and The Morning Show, but has now written her first adult fiction book.

Read more on BBC

It also frequently collects management fees for taking a role in the design and construction of buildings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The effort is part of a broader hiring push by the e-commerce giant to add 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal roles across the United States.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In New Zealand, EV owner Lucy Hawcroft, who works in a sustainability role for an infrastructure firm, bought a Nissan Leaf with her husband roughly three years ago.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• act 
• appearance 
• aspect 
• character 
• part 
• performance 
• portrayal