minor role vs role

minor role and role both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
minor role	Yes	No	No	No
role	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, role is a hypernym of minor role; that is, role is a word with a broader meaning than minor role:

Other hypernyms of minor role include character, part, persona, theatrical role.

minor role (noun)	role (noun)
a small role	the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
	normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting
	what something is used for
	an actor's portrayal of someone in a play