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

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

She’s an advocate of parental choice when it comes to vaccines, not trusting the experts who have determined that only children who are vaccinated can return to school when there’s a risk of infection.

From Los Angeles Times

Even with the board cracking down on data sharing, advocates say it’s nearly impossible to ensure federal agents are barred from license plate data in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

The Marines published a description of the airspace proposal in 2019, but multiple recreation advocates and local officials said they didn’t hear about it until the Marines released a draft environmental assessment last month.

From Los Angeles Times

Away from the studio, Redford became a prominent advocate for the environment.

From BBC

LGBTQ+ advocates called such rhetoric alarming — and said they worry it will be used as a pretext for the administration to ramp up its assault on LGBTQ+ rights.

From 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