advocate

American  

[ad-vuh-keyt, ad-vuh-kit, -keyt] / ˈæd vəˌkeɪt, ˈæd və kɪt, -ˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

• advocates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• advocated,
  past participle,  past
• advocating
  present participle

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

   He advocated higher salaries for teachers.

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verb (used without object)

• advocates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• advocated,
  past participle,  past
• advocating
  present participle

1. to act as an advocate.

   a father who advocates for his disabled child.

noun

• advocates
  plural

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 British  

verb

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

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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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• advocates
  plural

Participles

• advocating
  present
• advocated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• advocate
  simple
• advocates
  simple
• have advocated
  perfect
• has advocated
  perfect
• am advocating
  progressive
• are advocating
  progressive
• is advocating
  progressive
• have been advocating
  perfect progressive
• has been advocating
  perfect progressive

Past

• advocated
  simple
• had advocated
  perfect
• was advocating
  progressive
• were advocating
  progressive
• had been advocating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will advocate
  simple
• will have advocated
  perfect
• will be advocating
  progressive
• will have been advocating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of advocate

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

Explanation

An advocate (AD-və-kit) is someone who supports a cause, like an advocate for outdoor recess. Advocate (AD-və-kate) is also a verb meaning to speak in favor of, so you can advocate for that outdoor recess by urging your school to play outside! As a noun, an advocate is a person who represents another person’s interests, like a lawyer does. In fact, the word comes from the courtroom — it’s from Latin advocare, to “add” a “voice.” To advocate is to add a voice of support to a cause or person. An advocate is anyone who adds that voice by representing another person in court, or by supporting or working toward a particular course of action.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

advocate advocates advocated advocating

The Thai government is "using the security apparatus to solve the problem", the rights advocate Kannavee said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

“There are different social standards for women, and this is why women mask harder,” said Storee Powell, 38, a disability advocate in Smithfield, Utah.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

They certainly won’t advocate for universal affordable childcare.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Guest: Meghan Cliffel, writer, mindfulness teacher, postpartum psychosis survivor and maternal mental health advocate.

From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026

Inside the White House, however, the standing of Harold Stassen, the most vociferous advocate of the test ban, had slipped.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Online-safety advocates champion that change, as comparisons on social media can lead to self-doubt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

But in this case, the desperation of the situation might just call for public health advocates leaning into the dangerous new technology.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

It’s unclear what factors led to the crash and a medical examiner’s report is still underway, but safe street advocates are pointing to the death as one reason the road improvement project is overdue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

"We have used Harvest in our three companies for at least 15 years and have been loyal and enthusiastic advocates of it," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Hamilton was, after George Washington, the most powerful figure in the Federalist party and, his advocates would have added, the intellectual wellspring for all the political energy that Washington merely symbolized.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Economists and housing-industry leaders have advocated for more construction to meet the demand for housing after a pullback on construction following the 2008 housing crash severely squeezed supply.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

In the rhinestone-clad, quick-witted country music queen, many gays and lesbians saw an unexpected but unwavering ally that advocated for their dignity and rights long before it was popular to do so.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

It advocated for greater freedoms and rule of law even as those notions fell increasingly out of favor with a populace willing to embrace a strongman ruler to end the post-Soviet economic malaise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Another comment advocated for simplicity by maintaining the status quo.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

I advocated that we should remain seated, as it was demeaning to have to recognize the enemy when he did not recognize us as political prisoners.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Julie Meyer Rowett, an elder-law attorney who has been advocating for estate-recovery reform in Oregon, took the case on a pro bono basis.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Siebel Newsom is a documentary filmmaker and in 2011 founded a nonprofit advocating for more women in leadership roles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Meghan has come under criticism for featuring her children on her public social-media accounts while also advocating for social-media safety for young people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

His policy platform often lampoons mainstream politics while drawing on genuine public anger and frustrations, and advocating in support of democracy.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

“Material advocating the equality of whites and blacks?”

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

Related Words

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