role

play

noun \ ˈrōl \

variants: or less commonly rôle

Definition of role

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

See role defined for English-language learners

See role defined for kids

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 of role from the Web

While the court believes (not uncontroversially) that the current conflict in Libya is a continuation of the 2011 civil war, al-Werfalli’s crimes have nothing to do with the 2011 uprising or his role in defeating the regime.

— mark kersten, Washington Post, "Will the International Criminal Court’s latest target in Libya be brought to justice?," 31 Aug. 2017
Kansas City’s ethics commission found no basis Wednesday for a conflict of interest allegation against City Councilwoman Jolie Justus in her influential role relating to the potential modernization of Kansas City International Airport.

— lynn horsley, kansascity, "Ethics commission rules for councilwoman on conflict over KCI," 30 Aug. 2017
In response, one professor explained why Walsh’s viral tweet was so incredibly inaccurate — basically, because women traditionally hold the role of caregiver.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "An Actual Gender Studies Professor Debunked That Viral Hurricane Harvey Tweet," 30 Aug. 2017
Brandon Jones, known for his role as Andrew Campbell on Pretty Little Liars, is reportedly facing jail time.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "“Pretty Little Liars” Actor Brandon Jones Sentenced to 180 Days in Jail," 29 Aug. 2017
With USD’s leading rusher (Jonah Hodges) and top receiver in terms of yardage (Brian Riley) having graduated, Dwelley is expected to play a key role in the 2017 season.

— don norcross, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tight end Dwelley rejoins USD football team," 28 Aug. 2017
Cohn was in a major leadership role at Goldman Sachs during the time of the 2008 economic crisis.

— thomas macmillan, Cosmopolitan, "Who Is Gary Cohn? 9 Things You Should Know About the White House Economic Adviser.," 25 Aug. 2017
But all four were longstanding, senior-level members of Russia's diplomatic corps serving abroad in crucial roles.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "A Fourth Russian Ambassador in 9 Months Is Now Dead," 24 Aug. 2017
The B-52H currently operates the AGM-86B cruise missile in the nuclear role, while the B-2A carries only B61 free-fall nuclear bombs.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "America Is Building a New, Stealthy Nuclear Cruise Missile," 24 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'role.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of role

French rôle, literally, roll, from Old French rolle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

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role Synonyms

Synonyms

business, capacity, function, job, part, place, position, purpose, task, work

Related Words

affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation; niche, office, post, situation; calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation; activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

ROLE Defined for English Language Learners

role

play

noun

Definition of role for English Language Learners

: the character played by an actor
: a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation
: the part that someone has in a family, society, or other group

ROLE Defined for Kids

role

play

noun \ ˈrōl \

Definition of role for Students

1 :a character assigned or taken on Switching roles, the children cared for their mother.

2 :a part played by an actor or singer

3 :¹function 1

Anyone who volunteers for a special role on the trip gets extra credit …
—Ann M. Martin, Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation

Medical Dictionary

role

noun

variants: also rôle play \ˈrōl\

medical Definition of role

:a socially prescribed pattern of behavior usually determined by an individual's status in a particular society

Learn More about role

See words that rhyme with role Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for role Spanish Central: Translation of role Nglish: Translation of role for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of role for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about role

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Origin and Etymology of role

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Synonyms

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ROLE Defined for English Language Learners

role

Definition of role for English Language Learners

ROLE Defined for Kids

role

Definition of role for Students

Medical Dictionary

role

medical Definition of role

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