ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Actor (policy debate)

In policy debate, an actor is someone who argues on behalf of a particular side of a policy debate. It's like a game, where two teams compete to see which side can come up with the best arguments and explanations to support their point of view. Each team has actors—people on each side who make arguments and discuss the topic to try to prove their point. The team with the best arguments and explanations wins the debate.