role-play

American  

[rohl-pley] / ˈroʊlˌpleɪ /

Or roleplay

verb (used with object)

1. to assume the attitudes, actions, and discourse of (another), especially in a make-believe situation in an effort to understand a differing point of view or social interaction.

   Management trainees were given a chance to role-play labor negotiators.

2. to experiment with or experience (a situation or viewpoint) by playing a role in a make-believe scenario.

   My therapist and I role-played ending a relationship—an important life skill.

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verb (used without object)

1. to engage in role-playing.

noun

1. the act or technique of role-playing, or an instance of this.

   We often use role-play to help new immigrants learn English.

   In my nursing class we had to prepare a role-play about a dementia patient and her caregiver.

Etymology

Origin of role-play

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

"Grok is more prone to jumping into role play," says Nicholls, who worked on that research.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

It quickly gained traction among people who wanted to role play with its customizable characters, netting the company about 20 million monthly users today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

They keep it light, he said, but they like to role play, she a wolf and he a bear.

From Reuters • Mar. 18, 2023

“I’m watching a role play, and the mom is yelling at the child exactly the same way I yell,” Hedge recalled.

From Washington Post • Mar. 7, 2023

These were classes where we had to role play various people we’d find out there—waiters in cafés, policemen and so on.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro