proponent

American  

[pruh-poh-nuhnt] / prəˈpoʊ nənt /

noun

• proponents
  plural

1. 

   a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal.

2. a person who argues in favor of something; an advocate.

   Synonyms:

   enthusiast, champion, supporter

3. a person who supports a cause or doctrine; adherent.

   Synonyms:

   enthusiast, champion, supporter

4. a person who propounds a legal instrument, such as a will for probate.

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proponent British  

/ prəˈpəʊnənt /

noun

1. a person who argues in favour of something

2. law a person who seeks probate of a will

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• proponents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of proponent

First recorded in 1580–90, proponent is from the Latin word prōpōnent- (stem of prōpōnēns ). See propone, -ent

Explanation

Proponent means someone who is in favor of something. You might be a proponent of longer vacations, but your parents are proponents of a longer school year. If you’re in favor of long school vacations, you’re pro or "for" long vacations. The prefix pro- also carries the meaning of “forward,” “ahead,” or “before.” All of these senses are at work in proponent: someone who suggests (puts forward) an idea or who is in favor of an idea. A proponent proposes an idea or advocates for a proposal or a proposition.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

proponent proponents

For instance, Kubiak has been a major proponent of deploying formations with two tight ends.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

To qualify an initiative for the ballot, the initiative’s proponent is “required to collect and submit a large number of signatures belonging to to registered voters who supported the measure.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Closer security ties among Pacific islands will also be discussed, despite the abrupt departure Monday of its proponent, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, to deal with a brewing political crisis at home.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

As a huge proponent of unretirement, I’m excited to continue working part time at 70 by writing for a variety of outlets.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 23, 2026

A proponent of the Great Books series—which he had read twice—Uncle Pete was engaged with serious thought and Italian opera.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Meanwhile, Tennessee's proponents of capital punishment have suggested that a different method be used.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

To its proponents, EA is a rational, evidence-based way to do good.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

This, though, isn’t a good guide to AI, where some of the most aggressive innovators are also loud proponents of oversight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Van Dyk and other bike proponents say it’s a long game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

In order to justify this, proponents of this position insist that evidence is never discovered: it is always ‘constructed’ within a particular social community.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• advocate
• backer
• defender
• enthusiast
• exponent
• partisan
• patron
• protector
• supporter