Roll Call or Role Call | Correct Spelling & Examples

Roll call is the correct spelling for the noun that refers to the act of taking attendance. Role call is a misspelling of roll call and is always incorrect.

Roll call or role call examples
  • The teacher takes roll call every morning.
  • The teacher takes role call every morning.

Roll call meaning

Roll call means “the process of calling out names to establish who is present.” This phrase allegedly originates from when names were written on “rolls” of paper.

Roll calls are typical at school, meetings, and other events where it’s important to know who is and isn’t present. They’re also common in the military.

Roll call examples
I have to go tell the professor I was here, because I was in the bathroom during roll call.

We’ll begin our meeting today with roll call and the payment of monthly dues.

Make sure you’re at roll call every morning at 6:00 or you’ll have to run laps.

A few synonyms for roll call are:

  • Attendance (e.g., “The teacher took attendance”)
  • Roster check (e.g., “Coach did a roster check before the game”)
  • Headcount (e.g., “Let’s take a quick headcount to make sure everyone is here”)

Roll call or role call

Roll call is the correct spelling.

“Role” on its own means “position or function assumed,” and is commonly used in everyday English (e.g., “I got the lead role in the play” or “your role today is to just observe”).

Role call is incorrect, as what’s being “called” is a list of names, not jobs or functions.

Roll call or role call examples
  • The court clerk took roll call to make sure everyone showed up for jury duty.
  • The court clerk took role call to make sure everyone showed up for jury duty.
  • Now let’s start roll call. Tessa Anderson?
  • Now let’s start role call. Tessa Anderson?
  • The counselor took roll call to make sure all the campers made it off the bus.
  • The counselor took role call to make sure all the campers made it off the bus.

Roll and role are homophones, so this distinction is only relevant when writing.

Use the QuillBot Grammar Checker to make sure you spell roll call and other words correctly every time.

Frequently asked questions about roll call or role call

What is the definition of roll call vote?

A “roll call vote” is defined as a vote where members of the voting body are called on by name and must then say if they are for or against something.

Roll call votes are mostly associated with legislature and board meetings.

The name comes from the noun roll call, which refers to the act of taking attendance.

QuillBot’s Grammar Check can make sure you use “roll call vote” correctly in your writing.

What’s the meaning of headcount?

“Headcount” is a noun that means “the instance of counting how many people are present.”

For example, a teacher may do a headcount when taking students on a trip to make sure everyone is accounted for.

A headcount differs from a roll call or a “roster check,” both of which run through names to see who is present and who isn’t.

QuillBot’s Grammar Check can check that you use words like “headcount” correctly every time.

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Kate Santoro, BS

Kate has a BS in journalism. She has taught English as a second language in Spain to students of all ages for a decade. She also has experience in content management and marketing.