devil's advocate

American  

[dev-uhlz ad-vuh-kit] / ˈdɛv əlz ˈæd və kɪt /

noun

1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular cause for the sake of argument or to expose it to a thorough examination.

2. Also called Promoter of the Faith.  Roman Catholic Church. an official appointed to present arguments against a proposed beatification or canonization of a beatus.

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devil's advocate British  

noun

1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular view, often for the sake of argument

2. Technical name: promotor fidei.  RC Church the official appointed to put the case against the beatification or canonization of a candidate

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devil's advocate Idioms  

1. One who argues against a cause or position either for the sake of argument or to help determine its validity. For example, My role in the campaign is to play devil's advocate to each new policy before it's introduced to the public. This term comes from the Roman Catholic Church, where advocatus diaboli (Latin for “devil's advocate”) signifies an official who is appointed to present arguments against a proposed canonization or beatification. It was transferred to wider use in the mid-1700s.

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Etymology

Origin of devil's advocate

First recorded in 1750–60; translation of New Latin advocātus diabolī; advocate ( def. ), diabolic ( def. )

Example Sentences

In her first SCiLL class, Allen said, “There were definitely people who’d signed up to play devil’s advocate in what they assumed would be a conservative class.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

Playing devil’s advocate: He may be responding to a new person in his home who is being kind and helpful.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 1, 2025

News website Ukrayinska Pravda even called him "the devil's advocate".

From BBC • May 24, 2025

For example, they are allowed to make an educational point by playing devil’s advocate in a class debate on contemporary American politics.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

He never played devil’s advocate or told me what I was feeling was wrong, the way Stephen Kellner did.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram