role

/roʊl/

/rəʊl/

Other forms: roles

A role is a part you play. In school, you might take on the role of clown, in your family, the role of the responsible one, on stage, the role of Juliet.

Role can also mean job or function. It is the role of the police to keep the community safe, and political parties often argue about the role government should play in our lives. Roles can also be played by things. You can say that computers play an increasing role in our day-to-day lives and that the role of a hat is to keep your head warm. You look up to your role model because of the important role that they play in influencing others' lives.

Definitions of role

1. noun

   the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
   “play its role”

   synonyms: function, office, part

   types:

   capacity

   a specified function

   hat

   an informal term for a person's role

   portfolio

   the role of the head of a government department

   lieu, place, position, stead

   the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another

   second fiddle

   a secondary role or function

   behalf

   as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as "on behalf of" rather than "in behalf of")

   type of:

   duty

   work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons
2. noun

   normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting
   “what is your role on the team?”

   types:

   gender role

   the overt expression of attitudes that indicate to others the degree of your maleness or femaleness

   position

   (in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player

   goalie, goalkeeper, goaltender, netkeeper

   the defensive position on an ice hockey or soccer or lacrosse team who stands in front of the goal and tries to prevent opposing players from scoring

   mound, pitcher

   the position on a baseball team of the player who throws the ball for a batter to try to hit

   catcher

   the position on a baseball team of the player who is stationed behind home plate and who catches the balls that the pitcher throws

   first, first base

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

   second, second base

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the second of the bases in the infield

   short, shortstop

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed between second and third base

   third, third base

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the third of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

   left field, leftfield

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is expected to field balls in the left third of the outfield (looking from home plate)

   center field, centerfield

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is expected to field balls in the central third of the outfield

   right field, rightfield

   the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is expected to field balls in the right third of the outfield (looking from home plate)

   forward

   a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team

   center

   a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game

   guard

   a position on a basketball team

   back

   (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

   lineman

   (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed on the line of scrimmage

   mid-off

   the fielding position in cricket closest to the bowler on the off side

   mid-on

   the fielding position in cricket closest to the bowler on the on side

   center

   the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game

   cleanup, cleanup position, cleanup spot

   (baseball) the fourth position in the batting order (usually filled by the best batter on the team)

   type of:

   activity

   any specific behavior
3. noun

   what something is used for
   synonyms: function, purpose, use

   types:

   raison d'etre

   the purpose that justifies a thing's existence

   type of:

   usefulness, utility

   the quality of being of practical use
4. noun

   an actor's portrayal of someone in a play, film, etc...
   synonyms: character, part, persona, theatrical role

   types:

   bit part, minor role

   a small role

   heavy

   a serious (or tragic) role in a play

   hero

   the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem

   ingenue

   the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play

   name part, title role

   the role of the character after whom the play is named

   heroine

   the main good female character in a work of fiction

   baddie, villain

   the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction

   cameo

   a brief appearance by a well-known actor in a movie or play

   soubrette

   a minor female role as a pert flirtatious lady's maid in a comedy

   type of:

   characterisation, characterization, enactment, personation, portrayal

   acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture