roll call

noun

1

: the act or an instance of calling off a list of names (as for checking attendance)

also : a time for a roll call

2

: list entry 1

Synonyms of roll call

• list
• listing

Examples of roll call in a Sentence

Two students missed roll call.

the roll call of the fallen was read aloud at the memorial service

Recent Examples on the Web

The entire roll call of avant-garde movements—from Futurism, Dadaism, and Surrealism in the first part of the twentieth century to Situationism, Happenings, and Fluxus in the second—submitted to the lure of aleatory forces. — Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026

She was struck by the willingness of younger officers to openly talk about the mental toll of the job, recalling a recent visit to a roll call in which an officer described feeling a lack of support after being involved in an on-duty shooting. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

The price for Senate Republicans to finish the college sports bill quickly this week might be a roll call vote on allowing NCAA athletes to organize. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The celebrity roll call also includes Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Richardson, The Pitt star Noah Wyle, and director Robert Luketic. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for roll call

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

roll call

noun

: the action of calling off a list of names (as for checking attendance)

also : a time for a roll call

Legal Definition

roll call

noun

: the act or an instance of calling off a list of names (as for checking attendance)

specifically : an act or instance of calling the roll of a legislative body to determine if there is a quorum or to vote on a matter