# role model

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A person who serves as an example, or whose behavior is emulated by others.

## Etymology
Coined by sociologist Robert K. Merton. First use appears c. 1944 in the American Sociological Review.

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