variants
or less commonly rôle
1
a(1)
: a character assigned or assumed
had to take on the role of both father and mother
(2)
: a socially expected behavior pattern usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
b
: a part played by an actor or singer
2
: a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process
played a major role in the negotiations
Examples of role in a Sentence
He plays the role of the villain.
She was given the starring role.
I had a minor role in the play.
After her husband left her, she had to take on the dual role of mother and father for her children.
She likes to play the role of matchmaker with her friends.
She challenged the traditional roles assigned to women.
We'll switch roles this time, and you can wash the dishes while I dry them.
It was a case of role reversal: the father stayed home with the children while the mother worked.
Recent Examples on the Web
His campaign disputes that characterization, emphasizing his role on the administration’s FEMA Review Council, a body tasked with evaluating disaster policy rather than managing day-to-day operations, according to reporting from the Charlotte Observer.
—
Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
As officials continue to investigate and search for Nancy Guthrie, Walsh emphasizes the important role the public can play in missing persons cases when every second counts.
—Julia Bonavita , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Tom Felton, who played Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series for a decade from 2001, marked his most famous role’s unlikely crossover.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The unit is not built with civilian law enforcement in mind, and such a deployment would've likely been seen as a major escalation of the federal government's role in the Minneapolis protests.
—Steve Beynon, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for role
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Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
As officials continue to investigate and search for Nancy Guthrie, Walsh emphasizes the important role the public can play in missing persons cases when every second counts.
—Julia Bonavita , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Tom Felton, who played Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series for a decade from 2001, marked his most famous role’s unlikely crossover.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
The unit is not built with civilian law enforcement in mind, and such a deployment would've likely been seen as a major escalation of the federal government's role in the Minneapolis protests.
—Steve Beynon, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for role
Cite this Entry
“Role.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
role
noun
variants
also rôle
1
a
: a character assigned or taken on
b
: a socially expected behavior pattern usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
c
: a part played by an actor or singer
a starring role
2
: function entry 1 sense 2a
the role of enzymes in digestion
Etymology
from French rôle "part played by an actor," literally "scroll"; so called because before the use of books, the actor's parts were written on scrolls
Medical Definition
role
noun
variants
also rôle
: a socially prescribed pattern of behavior usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society
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