advocacy
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of advocacy
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English advocacye, from Medieval Latin advocātia; see advocate, -acy
Explanation
When you give your active support to an idea or cause, you are showing your advocacy for that cause. Your advocacy for an animal rights group might help raise money to save stray pups. The noun advocacy comes to English from a term used in Roman law. An advocate was a professional whose job was to plead cases in front of a court of law. That meaning led to the verb form advocate, as well as advocacy, to describe the work of an advocate. "The lunchroom staff were advocates for healthier school lunches; their advocacy was supported by parents and the school board; however, the students were reluctant to give up their cookies and chips."
Vocabulary lists containing advocacy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prasad stepped down in April, concluding a turbulent tenure marked by public clashes with drugmakers and patient advocacy groups.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Mr. Ahamed, an unapologetic silver man, goes so far in his advocacy of remedial government action as to suborn the long-departed author of “Lombard Street,” published in 1873, to bear false witness.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Patagonia's legal action alleges Pattie Gonia competes "directly with the products and advocacy" upon which the firm built its brand.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
Amanda Fischer, the policy director of advocacy group Better Markets and former chief of staff at the U.S.
From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026
Developing the trust of clients is not only necessary to manage the complexities of the litigation and deal with the stress of a potential execution; it's also key to effective advocacy.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
