role-playing
|role-play-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈroʊlˌpleɪɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈrəʊlˌpleɪɪŋ/
(role-play)
acting out roles
Etymology
'role-playing' originates from the combination of 'role' and 'play', where 'role' refers to a character or part in a play, and 'play' refers to the act of performing.
'Role' and 'play' have been used in English since the 16th century, and the combination 'role-playing' became popular in the 20th century with the rise of role-playing games.
Initially, it meant 'acting out a role', but it has evolved to include structured games and training exercises.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the acting out or performance of a particular role, either consciously (as a technique in training or psychotherapy) or unconsciously (as in a role-playing game).
Role-playing can be a useful tool in therapy to explore different perspectives.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/03/09 10:22