proponent
Americannoun
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proponents
plural
-
a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal.
-
a person who argues in favor of something; an advocate.
- Synonyms:
- enthusiast, champion, supporter
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a person who supports a cause or doctrine; adherent.
- Synonyms:
- enthusiast, champion, supporter
-
a person who propounds a legal instrument, such as a will for probate.
noun
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a person who argues in favour of something
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law a person who seeks probate of a will
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of proponent
First recorded in 1580–90, proponent is from the Latin word prōpōnent- (stem of prōpōnēns ). See propone, -ent
Explanation
Proponent means someone who is in favor of something. You might be a proponent of longer vacations, but your parents are proponents of a longer school year. If you’re in favor of long school vacations, you’re pro or "for" long vacations. The prefix pro- also carries the meaning of “forward,” “ahead,” or “before.” All of these senses are at work in proponent: someone who suggests (puts forward) an idea or who is in favor of an idea. A proponent proposes an idea or advocates for a proposal or a proposition.
Vocabulary lists containing proponent
Power Prefix: pro
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Grade 9, List 4
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Vocabulary from the Third and Final Presidential Debate, October 19, 2016
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They took an online class at Stanford with Richard Socher, a proponent of natural language processing, and formed a study group on the topic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
“It’s fully paid for,” said former state senator Steven Glazer, who is a passionate proponent of the bill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
“I still think that market moves on the back of this speech could fade quickly if the economic data does not swing hawkish, because Warsh is not a proponent of forward guidance,” she told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, a staunch proponent of open-weight tools, has been among the executives discussing AI oversight with the White House in recent weeks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
My mother had also been a big proponent of winter ice-cream cones.
From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth
Meanwhile, Tennessee's proponents of capital punishment have suggested that a different method be used.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
To its proponents, EA is a rational, evidence-based way to do good.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
This, though, isn’t a good guide to AI, where some of the most aggressive innovators are also loud proponents of oversight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Van Dyk and other bike proponents say it’s a long game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
According to proponents, when the technology is perfected and extended it will surely lead to new possibilities for therapy.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
