role reversal

noun

A situation in which two people adopt roles that are the reverse of the roles they normally assume in relation to one another.

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Meanings

nounrole reversal (countable and uncountable, plural role reversals)

plural role reversals

  1. countableuncountableA situation in which two people adopt roles that are the reverse of the roles they normally assume in relation to one another.

    And it all breaks down at the role reversal Got the muse in my head, she's universal Spinning me round, she's coming over me

    1996, Placebo, “Nancy Boy”
    1 more example

    The table opposite me is occupied by a young couple with a table full of alcohol and snacks. In a role reversal, he is drinking Smirnoff Ice while she steadily demolishes a six-pack of lager!

    2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 74

Translations

Arabic اِنْعِكَاس الأَدْوَارِ
  • اِنْعِكَاس الأَدْوَارِ (inʕikās al-ʔadwāri)Translations
Finnish roolin kääntyminen
  • roolin kääntyminenTranslations
French inversion des rôles
  • inversion des rôlesTranslations
Hungarian szerepcsere, szerepváltás
  • szerepcsereTranslations
  • szerepváltásTranslations
Polish odwrócenie ról, zamiana ról
  • odwrócenie rólTranslations
  • zamiana rólTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

role reversal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/role%20reversal

MLA

“role reversal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/role%20reversal. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “role reversal,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/role%20reversal.

Source: role reversal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.