predetermined role
noun phraseUK /ˌpriːdɪˈtɜːmɪnd rəʊl/
US /ˌpriːdɪˈtɜːrmɪnd roʊl/
A job or part that is decided for someone before they even start.
In the school play, each student had a predetermined role to act out.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A duty in a game or story that is planned ahead of time.
The board game gives every player a predetermined role, like explorer or builder.
3. The part someone is expected to play in a family or group, decided by others.
As the oldest child, he felt he had a predetermined role of looking after his siblings.
4. A function in a machine or system that is set before it runs.
Each robot arm has a predetermined role on the assembly line.