roster

noun

ros·​ter ˈrä-stər How to pronounce roster (audio)
also ˈrȯ-
or ˈrō-
Synonyms of roster
1
a
: a roll or list of personnel
b
: such a list giving the order in which a duty is to be performed
a duty roster
c
: the persons listed on a roster
2
: an itemized list

Examples of roster in a Sentence

His name has been added to the team roster. The team has a roster of 40 players.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Pulaski County jail roster had no record of Johnson on Sunday night. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the lengthy list of unavailable players and said the 49ers may not be able to reach the maximum 48 players on the game-day roster. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 There will more players shuffled off the roster — such as free agents Jonathan India and Luke Maile, among others. — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 This roster also reflects The District’s appeal to brands expanding selectively — with Adam Lippes, Pucci, Altuzarra and Maison Francis Kurkdjian choosing it for their Texas debuts, alongside Biologique Recherche’s sole Texas residence. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roster

Word History

Etymology

Dutch rooster, literally, gridiron; from the parallel lines

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of roster was in 1727

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roster. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a list usually of people belonging to some group
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster