role

noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Diesel has been synonymous with Fast and Furious, given his role as Dominic Toretto in the series that began as a street racing movie in 2001. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 Diesel revealed that his return to the eleventh installment of the blockbuster series came with a few non-negotiable conditions—one of which was directly tied to Paul Walker’s iconic role. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 30 June 2025 Labs should begin to integrate AI into their operational processes, starting with automating repetitive tasks and gradually expanding AI's role to more complex lab functions and expectations. Michael Connell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025 In reality, Reese has taken a major step forward in her development this season while adapting to a new role as a playmaking forward who spends a significant amount of time with the ball in her hands. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for role

Word History

Etymology

French rôle, literally, roll, from Old French rolle

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of role was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Role.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids 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

More from Merriam-Webster on role

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