actor

Meaning

Noun

• A person who performs, plays a part in a theatrical play or film.
• One who acts; a doer.
• One who takes part in a situation.
• An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.
• One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.
• One who enacts a certain policy action.
• The entity that performs a role (in use case analysis).
• The most agent-like argument of a clause, e.g. 'the torpedo' in "The torpedo sank the boat" and "The torpedo fired".

Related

Similar words

• performer, player
• doer
• participant
• complainant, plaintiff
• role

Opposite words

• undergoer

Narrower meaning words

• actress
• enactor
• reenactor

Origin

• From Middle English actour, from Latin āctor ("doer"), from agō. Equivalent to act + -or. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ ("leader"), from ἄγω.