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role model

role model

213 2.8
A person that others look up to and try to copy
  • noun
  • /roʊl ˈmɒdəl/
translation icon : modelo a seguir
  • The direction in which a career moves is strongly influenced by role models within the academic department.
  • serve as a role model
  • a positive role model
  • a career role model

Parents, you are role models for your children.

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Examples

  • He was a role model for a lot of young men.

  • - My mom has been my role model since before I knew what that was.

  • Trump is a good role model for our children.

  • You and I are the role models America needs.

  • And again, the father died and there was no male role model at all there.

  • Her job is to just come in, be a role model, be supportive.

  • The most influential role models for elementary school children are often their own parents.

    Academic text (2008)
  • And she was a wonderful reformer and a fantastic role model for women.

  • You are teachers, mentors, role models, and friends to college students.

  • My father was a role model who taught me the importance of hard work.

Synonyms

model
vsrole model
569 3.4

A person or thing that others copy because they are a good example

is focused on being emulated especially by younger people
example
vsrole model
515 1.0

A person or thing to copy because they do something good

is a person whose behavior or success others emulate in life
good example
vsrole model
111 1.4

A person or thing that others should copy

is someone others, especially young people, actually copy
idol
vsrole model
59 3.3

A person or thing seen as a perfect example of something

is more about being a practical example people try to copy
exemplar
vsrole model
16 7.2

A person or thing that shows very good behavior for others to copy

is about being followed for personal actions or public success
pacesetter
vsrole model
1 6.7

A person or thing that others copy because it shows new successful ideas

is about personal behaviour or success that others, especially youth, emulate

How Inspiring

idol
151 3.2
hero
1.1
role model
213 2.8
mentor
245 2.7
example
515 1.0

Surface Forms

role model singular
role models plural

Morphology

role + model

The meaning 'a person whose behavior is emulated' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'role' (a function or position) with 'model' (an example to imitate); together they denote someone who serves as an example in a role. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows straightforward noun-noun compounding, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Role model comes from the idea of an actor who shows a clear role that others can copy, so the actor becomes a model to follow. That's why calling someone a role model means they are a person people look to 'copy' or 'be like'.