actor

¹

[ ak-ter ]

noun

1. a person who acts in stage plays, motion pictures, television broadcasts, etc.
2. a person who does something; participant.

Actor

²

[ ak-ter ]

noun

, Classical Mythology.

1. a brother of King Augeas, sometimes believed to be the father, by Molione, of Eurytus and Cteatus.

actor

/ ˈæktə /

noun

1. a person who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
2. informal.
   a person who puts on a false manner in order to deceive others (often in the phrase bad actor )

Usage

The term actor is almost universally used nowadays to refer to people of either gender who act

Other Words From

• non·actor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of actor¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin āctor, equivalent to āg- ( act ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

“There was still some taboo about it,” Beauvais says of actors pivoting to unscripted projects.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the actor’s lawyers, Shawn Holley, said three jurors had agreed to meet voluntarily.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m not a yeller and I’m not demanding, but I will push as much as I can to get things right, to get that moment where you mesh with the other actor.

From Los Angeles Times

And, if the aftermath of past humanitarian disasters has taught us anything, sending all of the funds to any one central actor would be a grave mistake.

From Salon

Four months later, a New York judge decided Majors would not serve jail time and instead sentenced the actor to to domestic violence counseling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artist
• character
• clown
• comedian
• entertainer
• performer
• player
• star
• villain