advocate

[ad-vuh-keyt, ad-vuh-kit, -keyt]

verb (used with object)

advocated, advocating 

1. to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

   He advocated higher salaries for teachers.

verb (used without object)

advocated, advocating 

1. to act as an advocate.

   a father who advocates for his disabled child.

noun

1. a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually followed byof ).

   an advocate of peace.

   Synonyms: backer, proponent, champion

2. a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.

3. a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.

   Synonyms: solicitor, barrister, counsel, counselor, attorney, lawyer

advocate

verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to support or recommend publicly; plead for or speak in favour of

noun

1. a person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter

2. a person who intercedes on behalf of another

3. a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of law See also barrister solicitor counsellor

4. Scots law the usual word for barrister

Other Word Forms

• advocative adjective
• advocator noun
• nonadvocate noun
• preadvocate verb (used with object)
• readvocate verb (used with object)
• subadvocate noun
• unadvocated adjective
• well-advocated adjective
• advocatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of advocate¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin advocātus “legal counselor,” originally past participle of advocāre “to call to one's aid,” equivalent to ad- ad- + vocāre “to call” (akin to vōx voice ); replacing Middle English avocat, from Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of advocate¹

C14: via Old French from Latin advocātus legal witness, advocate, from advocāre to call as witness, from vocāre to call

Example Sentences

Note the irony of celebrating Nixon and Kissinger for abandoning the ruinous policies toward Russia, China and Vietnam that they had risen to power advocating.

Read more on Salon

Yet some fire safety advocates argue there’s simply no need to engage in dramatic, high-risk operations in order to make a difference.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Two prominent organizations that advocate for trans rights, Lambda Legal and the Trevor Project, did not respond to requests for interviews.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut to 3.75%-4% revealed internal divisions, with one official advocating for no cut and another for a deeper one.

Read more on Barron's

She has advocated for a “single-party system” branded under the guise of “solidarity,” but the result is an autocratic surveillance state that suppresses free speech, upheld by a violent paramilitary police force.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• back 
• campaign for www.thesaurus.com
• defend 
• encourage 
• favor 
• further 
• justify 
• press for www.thesaurus.com
• promote 
• propose 
• push 
• recommend 
• support 
• tout 
• uphold 
• urge