roster

[ros-ter]

noun

1. a list of persons or groups, as of military personnel or units with their turns or periods of duty.

   Synonyms: record, panel, slate, listing

2. any list, roll, or register.

   a roster of famous scientists; a roster of coming events.

   Synonyms: record, panel, slate, listing

roster

¹

/ ˈrɒstə /

noun

1. a list or register, esp one showing the order of people enrolled for duty

2. marketing the list of advertising agencies regularly used by a particular company

verb

1. (tr) to place on a roster

roster

²

/ ˈrɒstə /

noun

1. dialect,  a rascal

Word History and Origins

Origin of roster¹

1720–30; < Dutch rooster list, roster, literally, gridiron, in reference to the ruled paper used, equivalent to roost ( en ) to roast + -er -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of roster¹

C18: from Dutch rooster grating or list (the lined paper looking like a grid)

Example Sentences

Kershaw would be available for sure, as he is not on the wild-card roster and he would be pitching on regular rest.

From Los Angeles Times

Rushing, meanwhile, never found a groove with his bat or his game-calling upon returning to the active roster a few days later, enduring more rookie growing pains that had plagued him all year.

From Los Angeles Times

Clayton Kerhsaw was also left off the roster as expected, but could have a role in future rounds if the Dodgers advance.

From Los Angeles Times

“She really is an incredible person,” said Kelley O’Hara, who played with Riley at Stanford and with the Pali Blues before they both made four World Cup rosters.

From Los Angeles Times

Redick has challenged the entire roster to arrive in “championship shape.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agenda 
• inventory 
• record 
• schedule 
• table 

When To Use

What does roster mean?

A roster is a list or register of people or things.Roster is perhaps most commonly used to refer to the official list of players on a sports team, but it can refer to many other things, including lists of military personnel and lists of academic classes.Example: We have spots on our roster for 26 players.