roster
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A list or plan showing the order or schedule in which people are to perform duties or tasks.
Any list of names, especially a list of people belonging to a team, organisation, or other group; a schedule of planned events or assignments.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes an official, often rotating, list of assignments (duties, shifts, players). Implies organisation and planned distribution of responsibilities or participation. Can be used in sports, military, business, and education contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. The term is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral; conveys efficiency and organisation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be on the roster (for sth)to put sb on the rosterto take sb off the rostera roster of + [plural noun] (e.g., a roster of clients)roster + [noun] (e.g., roster duty)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be on the active roster”
- “to make the roster (to be selected)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A schedule assigning employees to specific shifts or projects for a given period.
Academic
A list of participants for a seminar series or a schedule of speakers.
Everyday
A family chart showing who does which chores each week.
Technical
In sports, the official list of players eligible to play for a team; in computing, a dynamic list of available resources or personnel.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager will roster the new staff for weekend shifts.
- She has been rostered to work next Friday.
American English
- The coach rostered the rookie for the next game.
- I'm rostered to be on call this weekend.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The duty roster is on the wall.
- My name is on the roster for cleaning today.
- Please check the work roster to see your shifts for next week.
- The football team has a strong roster this season.
- The hospital uses a complex rostering system to ensure 24-hour cover.
- Despite injuries, the coach managed the roster effectively throughout the tournament.
- The consultancy firm maintains a roster of freelance experts who can be deployed on short notice.
- Her meticulous rostering of departmental duties eliminated all scheduling conflicts.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ROOSTER crowing to wake people up for their shift on the ROSTER.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANISATION IS A LIST / TIME IS A SCHEDULE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "ростер" (калька). Стандартный перевод — "график (дежурств)", "расписание", "список (игроков)". Избегайте путаницы со словом "roster" и "rooster" (петух).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *"I saw my name in the roster." (Better: *on* the roster). Incorrect: *"She is responsible for the roster of the meetings." (Unnatural; use *schedule* or *agenda* for meetings).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'roster' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Roster' and 'rota' (more common in BrE) specifically refer to a list of people and their assigned turns for duties. 'Schedule' is broader, covering any plan of times for events or tasks, not necessarily focusing on person-to-task rotation.
Yes, especially in managerial, military, or sports contexts (e.g., 'She was rostered for night duty'). It means to place on or assign according to a roster.
The standard preposition is 'on the roster' (e.g., 'Your name is on the roster'). 'In the roster' is considered non-standard.
It is neutral but leans towards formal or official contexts. In very casual conversation, people might say 'schedule' or 'list' instead, but 'roster' is perfectly acceptable in everyday use.