advocate

[ verb ad-vuh-keyt; noun ad-vuh-kit, -keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ad·vo·cat·ed, ad·vo·cat·ing.

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)

, ad·vo·cat·ed, ad·vo·cat·ing.

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 by of ):

   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. See counsellor, solicitor, barrister
   a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of law See also barrister solicitor counsellor
4. See barrister
   Scots law the usual word for barrister

Derived Forms

• ˌadvoˈcatory, adjective

Other Words From

• advo·cative adjective
• advo·cator noun
• non·advo·cate noun
• pre·advo·cate noun
• pre·advo·cate verb (used with object) preadvocated preadvocating
• re·advo·cate verb (used with object) readvocated readvocating
• sub·advo·cate noun
• un·advo·cated adjective
• well-advo·cated 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

Voting-rights advocates said they are concerned with requirements that create more opportunities for voters to make mistakes and potentially make it less likely for their ballot to count.

From Washington Post

Of course, for many privacy advocates, surveillance drones capturing people’s every move is a dystopian nightmare.

From Fortune

Globally, the commitment has been well received by climate advocates.

From Fortune

Instead, according to records obtained by ProPublica, the deputy contacted the Heritage Foundation’s Hans von Spakovsky, a leading advocate for the discredited argument that American elections are tainted by widespread voting fraud.

From ProPublica

This is a tremendous opportunity for someone who has the credibility and composure to lead the search community as an educator and an advocate.

From Search Engine Land

I am fighting that quota because I am an advocate of competition.

From The Daily Beast

As a well-known advocate for Baluch rights in Iran, young Iranians reach out to him for advice.

From The Daily Beast

He is a true advocate for human rights who has paid a horrible price for standing up against the Assad dictatorship.

From The Daily Beast

Another step is to require a lawyer or advocate present during questioning of people with ID.

From The Daily Beast

How, then, are LGBT people to advocate for their rights (civil, human, or otherwise) if they cannot even identify themselves?

From The Daily Beast

Few, however, can now be found who do not advocate utilization of the principle to a greater or less degree in every organ.

From Project Gutenberg

Alexis Normand, advocate of the parliament of Paris, died; justly celebrated for his love of justice.

From Project Gutenberg

The day before her trial, her advocate, Chauveau de la Garde, visited her to consult respecting her defense.

From Project Gutenberg

Philip Livingston, a signer and a strenuous advocate for the declaration of independence, died.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the advocate of experimental rather than theoretical systems of medicine, and early adopted the practice of inoculation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• backer
• campaigner
• defender
• lawyer
• promoter
• proponent
• supporter