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

It seems like that that kind of like the role of being a little bossy and advocating for her sisters and making sure everything’s moving properly.

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But union leaders and advocates for older Americans said that the likely changes to disability eligibility for aging workers would undermine the financial and retirement security of working-class people and their families.

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Candidates could join together, if they liked, via cross-endorsements, instead of having their advocates work to push folks out of the race before voters have a say.

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Since he has returned, Mr Sun has become somewhat of an advocate for Xinjiang, which he says has been "misunderstood" as dangerous and tense.

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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

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