SSB WAT - Social Roles


The Word Association Test (WAT) in the SSB Interview is a key psychological assessment designed to evaluate your personality and thought process. In this article, we’ll focus on the social roles aspect of the WAT, providing you with a comprehensive list of words related to various roles in society—such as family, workplace, education, and more—along with their meanings and positive, constructive response examples. 

Whether you’re preparing for the SSB Interview or simply looking to improve your quick-thinking abilities, this guide will help you master the art of responding to social role-related words in a way that reflects the qualities of a future officer.


Family Roles

  1. Family:
    • Meaning: A group of two or more persons related by birth, marriage or adoption who live together.
    • Response: "Family provides love and support."
  2. Parent:
    • Meaning: A father or mother; one who raises and nurtures a child.
    • Response: "Parents guide with wisdom."
  3. Child:
    • Meaning: A young human being below the age of puberty; offspring of a parent.
    • Response: "Children learn through experience."
  4. Sibling:
    • Meaning: A brother or sister.
    • Response: "Siblings share a special bond."
  5. Spouse:
    • Meaning: A husband or wife; a partner in marriage.
    • Response: "Spouse is a partner in life."
  6. Partner:
    • Meaning: A person who shares a life or a venture with another, often in a romantic relationship.
    • Response: "Partners grow together."
  7. Grandparent:
    • Meaning: A parent of one's father or mother; a grandfather or grandmother.
    • Response: "Grandparents offer wisdom and care."
  8. Guardian:
    • Meaning: A person who is legally responsible for the care and management of a minor or someone unable to manage their own affairs.
    • Response: "Guardians protect and nurture."
  9. Relative:
    • Meaning: A person connected by blood or marriage.
    • Response: "Relatives strengthen family ties."

Workplace Roles

  1. Boss:
    • Meaning: A person in charge of a worker or organization.
    • Response: "A boss leads by example."
  2. Employee:
    • Meaning: A person employed for wages or salary, especially at non-executive level.
    • Response: "Employees contribute to success."
  3. Manager:
    • Meaning: A person responsible for controlling or administering an organization or group of staff.
    • Response: "Managers organize and motivate."
  4. Colleague:
    • Meaning: A person with whom one works in a profession or business.
    • Response: "Colleagues collaborate for goals."
  5. Intern:
    • Meaning: A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
    • Response: "Interns learn and grow."
  6. Mentor:
    • Meaning: An experienced and trusted adviser.
    • Response: "Mentors inspire and guide."
  7. Supervisor:
    • Meaning: A person who oversees the work of others.
    • Response: "Supervisors ensure quality work."
  8. CEO:
    • Meaning: Chief Executive Officer; the highest-ranking person in a company or other institution, ultimately responsible for making managerial decisions.
    • Response: "CEOs drive the company forward."
  9. Entrepreneur:
    • Meaning: A person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.
    • Response: "Entrepreneurs innovate and create."

Educational Roles

  1. Teacher:
    • Meaning: A person who teaches, especially in a school.
    • Response: "Teachers shape the future."
  2. Student:
    • Meaning: A person who is studying at a school or college.
    • Response: "Students learn and explore."
  3. Principal:
    • Meaning: The head of a school, college, or other educational institution.
    • Response: "Principals lead the institution."
  4. Professor:
    • Meaning: A teacher of the highest rank in a college or university.
    • Response: "Professors impart deep knowledge."
  5. Tutor:
    • Meaning: A private teacher, typically one who teaches a single pupil or a very small group.
    • Response: "Tutors guide personalized learning."
  6. Scholar:
    • Meaning: A specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities; a distinguished academic.
    • Response: "Scholars seek knowledge and truth."
  7. Alumni:
    • Meaning: A graduate or former student of a specific school, college, or university.
    • Response: "Alumni uphold the legacy."

Community and Social Roles

  1. Friend:
    • Meaning: A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.
    • Response: "Friends support and care."
  2. Neighbor:
    • Meaning: A person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to.
    • Response: "Neighbors create a strong community."
  3. Volunteer:
    • Meaning: A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.
    • Response: "Volunteers serve selflessly."
  4. Leader:
    • Meaning: A person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.
    • Response: "Leaders inspire and guide others."
  5. Follower:
    • Meaning: A person who supports and admires a particular person or set of ideas.
    • Response: "Followers learn and support."
  6. Activist:
    • Meaning: A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.
    • Response: "Activists drive positive change."
  7. Member:
    • Meaning: An individual belonging to a group, team, or society.
    • Response: "Members contribute to group success."
  8. Citizen:
    • Meaning: A legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized.
    • Response: "Citizens uphold their duties."
  9. Resident:
    • Meaning: A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis.
    • Response: "Residents build local communities."
  10. Supporter:
    • Meaning: A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement, or a policy).
    • Response: "Supporters stand by their cause."

Political and Civic Roles

  1. Politician:
    • Meaning: A person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office.
    • Response: "Politicians serve the nation."
  2. Voter:
    • Meaning: A person who has the right to vote in an election.
    • Response: "Voters shape the democracy."
  3. Activist:
    • Meaning: A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.
    • Response: "Activists champion justice."
  4. Mayor:
    • Meaning: The elected head of a city, town, or other municipality.
    • Response: "Mayors lead local development."
  5. Councilor:
    • Meaning: A member of a council, especially a local government council.
    • Response: "Councilors represent the people."
  6. Ambassador:
    • Meaning: An accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
    • Response: "Ambassadors foster diplomacy."
  7. Senator:
    • Meaning: A member of a senate, especially in the US.
    • Response: "Senators legislate for the public good."
  8. President:
    • Meaning: The elected head of a republican state.
    • Response: "Presidents lead the country with vision."

Religious and Spiritual Roles

  1. Priest:
    • Meaning: An ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican Church, authorized to perform certain rites and administer certain sacraments.
    • Response: "Priests guide spiritual growth."
  2. Monk:
    • Meaning: A member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
    • Response: "Monks practice peace and meditation."
  3. Nun:
    • Meaning: A member of a religious community of women, typically one living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
    • Response: "Nuns dedicate their lives to service."
  4. Imam:
    • Meaning: The person who leads prayers in a mosque.
    • Response: "Imams lead in prayer and faith."
  5. Rabbi:
    • Meaning: A Jewish scholar or teacher, especially one who studies or teaches Jewish law.
    • Response: "Rabbis teach and inspire."
  6. Pastor:
    • Meaning: A minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation.
    • Response: "Pastors offer guidance and comfort."
  7. Worshiper:
    • Meaning: A person who shows reverence and adoration for a deity.
    • Response: "Worshipers seek spiritual connection."
  8. Believer:
    • Meaning: A person who has faith in a particular religion or spiritual system.
    • Response: "Believers have faith and hope."

Social Status Roles

  1. Leader:
    • Meaning: A person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.
    • Response: "Leaders pave the way forward."
  2. Follower:
    • Meaning: A person who supports and admires a particular person or set of ideas.
    • Response: "Followers learn and evolve."
  3. Influencer:
    • Meaning: A person who has the ability to influence the behavior or opinions of others.
    • Response: "Influencers impact positive change."
  4. Celebrity:
    • Meaning: A famous person, especially in entertainment or sports.
    • Response: "Celebrities inspire and entertain."
  5. Public Figure:
    • Meaning: A person of great public interest or fame.
    • Response: "Public figures bear responsibility."
  6. Benefactor:
    • Meaning: A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
    • Response: "Benefactors support worthy causes."

Legal and Judicial Roles

  1. Judge:
    • Meaning: A public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.
    • Response: "Judges uphold justice impartially."
  2. Lawyer:
    • Meaning: A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or counselor.
    • Response: "Lawyers advocate for truth."
  3. Defendant:
    • Meaning: An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
    • Response: "Defendants deserve a fair trial."
  4. Plaintiff:
    • Meaning: A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
    • Response: "Plaintiffs seek rightful justice."
  5. Witness:
    • Meaning: A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
    • Response: "Witnesses testify to truth."
  6. Juror:
    • Meaning: A member of a jury.
    • Response: "Jurors ensure a fair verdict."
  7. Prosecutor:
    • Meaning: A legal representative who brings charges against a defendant in a court of law.
    • Response: "Prosecutors fight for justice."

Cultural and Artistic Roles

  1. Artist:
    • Meaning: A person who creates paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
    • Response: "Artists express creativity."
  2. Musician:
    • Meaning: A person who plays a musical instrument, especially as a profession, or is musically talented.
    • Response: "Musicians inspire through sound."
  3. Writer:
    • Meaning: A person who writes books, stories, or articles as a profession or occupation.
    • Response: "Writers communicate ideas."
  4. Actor:
    • Meaning: A person whose profession is acting on the stage, in movies, or on television.
    • Response: "Actors bring stories to life."
  5. Dancer:
    • Meaning: A person who dances or whose profession is dancing.
    • Response: "Dancers express through movement."
  6. Designer:
    • Meaning: A person who plans the look or workings of something prior to it being made, by preparing drawings or plans.
    • Response: "Designers innovate and create."
  7. Director:
    • Meaning: A person who is in charge of an activity, department, or organization, or in the arts, a person who supervises the actors and other staff in a film, play, or similar production.
    • Response: "Directors craft visual storytelling."
  8. Performer:
    • Meaning: A person who entertains an audience, for example, by acting, singing, or dancing on stage.
    • Response: "Performers captivate audiences."

Health and Caregiving Roles

  1. Doctor:
    • Meaning: A qualified practitioner of medicine; a physician.
    • Response: "Doctors heal and save lives."
  2. Nurse:
    • Meaning: A person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in a hospital.
    • Response: "Nurses provide compassionate care."
  3. Caregiver:
    • Meaning: A family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.
    • Response: "Caregivers support with love."
  4. Patient:
    • Meaning: A person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment.
    • Response: "Patients trust in healing."
  5. Therapist:
    • Meaning: A person skilled in a particular kind of therapy, especially psychological therapy.
    • Response: "Therapists guide mental wellness."
  6. Counselor:
    • Meaning: A person trained to give guidance on personal or psychological problems.
    • Response: "Counselors offer guidance and support."

Miscellaneous Roles

  1. Client:
    • Meaning: A person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company.
    • Response: "Clients value quality service."
  2. Customer:
    • Meaning: A person who purchases goods or services from another; a buyer.
    • Response: "Customers drive business success."
  3. Visitor:
    • Meaning: A person visiting a person or place, especially socially or as a tourist.
    • Response: "Visitors bring fresh perspectives."
  4. Guest:
    • Meaning: A person who is invited to visit someone’s home or attend a particular social occasion.
    • Response: "Guests are treated with respect."
  5. Host:
    • Meaning: A person who receives or entertains other people as guests.
    • Response: "Hosts ensure comfort and hospitality."
  6. Opponent:
    • Meaning: Someone who competes against or fights another in a contest, game, or argument.
    • Response: "Opponents challenge and sharpen skills."
  7. Ally:
    • Meaning: A person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose.
    • Response: "Allies strengthen mutual goals."

The Word Association Test (WAT) in the SSB Interview is an opportunity to showcase your positive mindset and thought process. Understanding the meaning of each word and responding quickly with natural, constructive thoughts that reflect qualities desirable in an officer can set you apart. 

Use these examples as a guide to practice but remember to stay true to your own personality and experiences when taking the actual test. With the right preparation, you can confidently tackle the WAT in SSB Interview and move closer to your goal of serving in the Indian Armed Forces.

Are you a repeater? Read about How to Prepare for SSB Interview as Repeater? or read about 3 Best Books for SSB Interview Preparation to help you clear your next SSB Interview.

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