role

American  

[rohl] / roʊl /

Rarely rôle

noun

• roles
  plural

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 British  

/ 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

Derived Forms

• multirole
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• roles
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of role

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

---

Explanation

A role is a part you play. In school, you might take on the role of clown, in your family, the role of the responsible one, on stage, the role of Juliet. Role can also mean job or function. It is the role of the police to keep the community safe, and political parties often argue about the role government should play in our lives. Roles can also be played by things. You can say that computers play an increasing role in our day-to-day lives and that the role of a hat is to keep your head warm. You look up to your role model because of the important role that they play in influencing others' lives.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

role roles

Silver can be seen as hybrid leading indicator because of its dual role as a monetary precious metal and an industrial commodity.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2026

Motlagh would know: He was in the role from 2021 to 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

Financial supporters play no role in our journalism.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

Soderbergh expressed his appreciation for Reeves’ work while addressing his new role Thursday in a widely reported statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The mental strain broke some, and others opted out of the program due to the overwhelming stress and pressure of it all and chose to work on campus in some other role.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

She was hired by Saks after college and spent 12 years in various buying and planning roles, ultimately becoming a vice president in the men’s sportswear division.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

France's points-based assignment system gives more experienced teachers greater choice over where they work, leaving "less experienced" educators more likely to be posted to "the most challenging roles", he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

The famed stage actor, who performed late into his life, didn’t shy away from challenging roles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

At Ferrari's factory in Maranello, the medical team studied how pit crews organised roles, communication and handovers.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Their roles had not been reversed, but still, something had changed.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---