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

Will anyone take his place as an advocate for freedom and U.S. interests abroad?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Your company’s human-resources advocate may also be able to escalate the issue with the insurer or negotiate on your behalf.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

"My dad loved movies and he was a huge advocate for us watching and appreciating art," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

A group of 18 people who work in the entertainment industry, including actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natasha Lyonne, launched a coalition that aims to advocate for the rights of creators amid AI’s boom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Of course an expert, whether a women’s health advocate or a political advisor or an advertising executive, tends to have different incentives than the rest of us.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Environmental advocates and many communities view the law—and the analysis it requires—as an essential way to understand major developments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

One forces prescribers to register with the manufacturer -- creating a national database that advocates say could pose a safety risk for doctors.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Common Cause advocates for a ban on stock trading among members of Congress, who are currently required to disclose stock activity but are not banned from trading.

From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026

But unlike other aspects of the administration’s education actions, the new policy has relatively broad support, with some student advocates saying it should be tougher.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

This situation also explains the otherwise mystifying fact that certain outstanding entomologists are among the leading advocates of chemical control.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Many such groups advocated for the restoration of Measure J, arguing that it was necessary to serve the will of the voters and provide crucial alternatives to the carceral system.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

She also argued for several key policies previously advocated by the new prime minister, including a new tax on the value of land to replace stamp duty on house purchases.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

But the assertion of tolls, however briefly advocated, is more telling.

From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026

This is a reverse of what was going on last year when he had advocated for rate cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

A skilled debater, he advocated for the interests of farmers and businessmen in his district.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Angie Gonzalez, 22, said Mazariegos earned her support because of his work advocating for tenant rights.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Like many of the artists and activists being targeted today, Smith’s writings advocating peace and equality for all people made her a primary target of the state.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

For years, the largest AI companies have been trying to get ahead of things, advocating proactively for regulations to place guardrails around the powerful technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Kreko noted that Polgar had international experience, having met dozens of world leaders in past decades while advocating for chess, talent development and education.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

He interpreted Bodin, quite wrongly, as advocating a very large sphere of earth floating in a sphere of water, thus retaining the core principles of a traditional Aristotelian argument.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

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