roll call

noun

Synonyms of roll callnext
1
: the act or an instance of calling off a list of names (as for checking attendance)
also : a time for a roll call
2

Examples of roll call in a Sentence

Two students missed roll call. the roll call of the fallen was read aloud at the memorial service
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.
At this mega master in Chelmsford, the judge conducted roll call and provided instructions on future hearings en masse. Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026 After roll call, she would be taken to White City Beach, a former park on Lake Erie that in the 1940s was home to attractions like Bonavita the lion trainer, along with fishing and a yacht club. Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026 Each episode begins with a roll call during which Lathan reads off everyone’s nickname. Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026 After another roll call came dinner (pork and beans, cornbread, potato salad, apricots, margarine, and coffee) and evening free time, when prisoners could read, play music, or (later) listen to radio. Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roll call

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roll call was in 1763

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Roll call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roll%20call. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

roll call

noun
: the action of calling off a list of names (as for checking attendance)
also : a time for a roll call

Legal Definition

roll call

noun
: the act or an instance of calling off a list of names (as for checking attendance)
specifically : an act or instance of calling the roll of a legislative body to determine if there is a quorum or to vote on a matter
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