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
On Wednesday, Tomer-Yerushalmi was suspended from her role as military advocate-general, as Israel’s Attorney General Gali Baharav‑Miara announced a criminal investigation into the leak.
—
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
As in 2025, the US played a critical role in this first occupation—but in a very different way.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
In the coming years, security professionals working in extreme environments should benefit from semi-automated workflows optimized to reduce fatigue and provide teams the freedom to focus on more complex aspects of their roles.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Trotter, who has been with AMC for 15 years, will be responsible for the department’s role in delivering campaigns and brand experiences that bring patrons to the chain’s various locations.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for role
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
As in 2025, the US played a critical role in this first occupation—but in a very different way.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
In the coming years, security professionals working in extreme environments should benefit from semi-automated workflows optimized to reduce fatigue and provide teams the freedom to focus on more complex aspects of their roles.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Trotter, who has been with AMC for 15 years, will be responsible for the department’s role in delivering campaigns and brand experiences that bring patrons to the chain’s various locations.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for role
Cite this Entry
“Role.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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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