Jobs vs Role

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Jobs

Top 1,000 (very common)

Role

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
 JobsRole
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dʒɒbz//🇺🇸 //dʒɑbz//🇬🇧 /["/rəʊl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rəʊl/"]/
MeaningPositions or roles people do to earn money.A part someone plays in a situation or story.
ExampleHe found several jobs that matched his skills.He took on the role of team leader during the project.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsfull-time jobs, part-time jobs, job market, job seeker, job openingslead, leading, starring, assume, perform, play, in the role (of), big, huge, large, have, occupy, perform, model, reversal, expectation, in a/​the role, role as, role at, big, huge, large, have, occupy, perform, model, reversal, expectation, in a/​the role, role as, role at
Antonymsunemployment, leisureunimportance, insignificance
Common mistakesConfused with 'job's' which is possessive., Used as a verb incorrectly., Mispronounced as 'jabs'.Confusing 'role' with 'roll', the latter meaning to turn over or to have a cylindrical shape., Using 'role' without a specific context, e.g., 'What is your role?' is better than just 'What is role?', Omitting 'in' when discussing roles in activities, e.g., 'His role in the project.'
Usage notesUsed in both formal and informal settings. Avoid in very casual contexts where slang terms for work may be preferred.Use 'role' when discussing duties in work or positions in stories. Be cautious not to confuse with 'roll' which is a different word. Appropriate in both formal and informal settings.

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Jobs
Role

Frequently asked questions: Jobs vs Role

What's the difference between Jobs and Role?

Jobs: Positions or roles people do to earn money. Role: A part someone plays in a situation or story.

Can you show an example of each?

Jobs: He found several jobs that matched his skills. Role: He took on the role of team leader during the project.

Can I use Jobs and Role interchangeably?

Not always. Jobs and Role are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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