# actor

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈak.tə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #2,240

## Definitions
1. Someone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant.
2. Someone acting on behalf of someone else; a guardian.
3. Someone or something that takes part in some action; a doer, an agent.
4. A person who acts a part in a theatrical play or (later) in film or television; a dramatic performer.
5. An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.
6. The subject performing the action of a verb.
7. The entity that performs a role (in use case analysis).

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti
Proto-Italic *agō
Latin agō
Latin āctus
Proto-Indo-European *-tōr
Proto-Italic *-tōr
Latin -tor
Latin āctorbor.
Middle English actour
English actor
Inherited from Middle English actour, from Anglo-Norman actor, Middle French actor, and their source, Latin āctor (“doer”), from agō (“to do”). Equivalent to act + -or. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ (áktōr, “leader”), from ἄγω (ágō, “lead, carry, convey, bring”).

## Easily confused with
- **ATO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-ato)
- **ATR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-atr)
- **acts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-acts)
- **auto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-auto)
- **atom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-atom)
- **atop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-atop)
- **alto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-alto)
- **Amor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-amor)
- **after** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-after)
- **alter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-alter)
- **armor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-armor)
- **altar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-altar)
- **Aston** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-aston)
- **Anton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-anton)
- **arbor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-arbor)
- **Alton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-alton)
- **Astor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-astor)
- **aster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-aster)
- **author** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-author)
- **anchor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-anchor)

## Common misspellings (7)
`acctor`, `acotr`, `actorr`, `actro`, `acttor`, `atcor`, `cator`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/actor