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role

or rôle

[ rohl ]
/ roʊl /
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See synonyms for: role / roles 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.
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Origin of role

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

OTHER WORDS FROM role

mul·ti·role, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH role

role , roll
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use role in a sentence

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

Medical definitions for role

role

n.
The characteristic and expected social behavior of an individual.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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