The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language gives four definitions of role, the first of which is also rôle A character or part played by a performer. A role is a comprehensive pattern of behavior that is socially recognized, providing a means of identifying and placing an individual in a society. It also serves as a strategy for coping with recurrent situations and dealing with the roles of others (e.g., parent–child roles). ROLE definition: a part or character played by an actor or actress. See examples of role used in a sentence. A role (sometimes spelled rôle) or a social role can be described as an expected behaviour of an individual. More precisely one could say it is a set of connected behaviours, rights and duties that a person has to follow in a social situation. The meaning of ROLE is a character assigned or assumed. How to use role in a sentence. ROLE meaning: 1. the position or purpose that someone or something has in a situation, organization, society, or…. Learn more. ROLE definition: 1. the position or purpose that someone or something has in a situation, organization, society, or…. Learn more. A role (also rôle or social role) is a set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms as conceptualized by people in a social situation. It is an expected or free or continuously changing behavior and may have a given individual social status or social position. Synonyms for ROLE: purpose, task, job, function, part, position, work, capacity, place, mission Definition of role noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.