devil's advocate

See synonyms for devil's advocate on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular cause for the sake of argument or to expose it to a thorough examination.

  2. Also called promoter of the faith. Roman Catholic Church. an official appointed to present arguments against a proposed beatification or canonization of a beatus.

Origin of devil's advocate

1
First recorded in 1750–60; translation of New Latin advocātus diabolī; see advocate, diabolic

Words Nearby devil's advocate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for devil's advocate

devil's advocate

noun
  1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular view, often for the sake of argument

  2. RC Church the official appointed to put the case against the beatification or canonization of a candidate: Technical name: promotor fidei (prəʊˈməʊtɔː fɪˈdeɪiː)

Origin of devil's advocate

1
translation of New Latin advocātus diabolī

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with devil's advocate

devil's advocate

One who argues against a cause or position either for the sake of argument or to help determine its validity. For example, My role in the campaign is to play devil's advocate to each new policy before it's introduced to the public. This term comes from the Roman Catholic Church, where advocatus diaboli (Latin for “devil's advocate”) signifies an official who is appointed to present arguments against a proposed canonization or beatification. It was transferred to wider use in the mid-1700s.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.