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

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