rôle

Rôle is a French noun that denotes the function or character someone or something has within a system. It can refer to a part played by an actor in a play or film, but it is also used more generally to describe duties, responsibilities, or a position within an organization or process.

Etymology-wise, rôle comes from Old French rolle or roole, which itself derives from Latin rotulus meaning a small roll or scroll. The modern French spelling with the circumflex marks historical pronunciation changes and a shift in spelling from earlier forms.

In practical use, the term appears in many contexts. In theatre and cinema, jouer un rôle means to portray a character. In everyday and professional language, it denotes the part someone is expected to perform, as in définir les rôles et responsabilités within a team or project. In computing and information security, rôle is used in the concept of role-based access control, where users are granted permissions according to their designated role.

The plural form is rôles, and the word is masculine. Related terms include fonction, poste, mission, and responsabilité. Rôle remains common in formal documents and HR discussions as well as in artistic contexts, where it helps distinguish between a character's part and a person’s duties within a system.