proponent

American  

[pruh-poh-nuhnt] / prəˈpoʊ nənt /

noun

• proponents
  plural

1. 

   a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal.

2. a person who argues in favor of something; an advocate.

   Synonyms:

   enthusiast, champion, supporter

3. a person who supports a cause or doctrine; adherent.

   Synonyms:

   enthusiast, champion, supporter

4. a person who propounds a legal instrument, such as a will for probate.

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proponent British  

/ prəˈpəʊnənt /

noun

1. a person who argues in favour of something

2. law a person who seeks probate of a will

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• proponents
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of proponent

First recorded in 1580–90, proponent is from the Latin word prōpōnent- (stem of prōpōnēns ). See propone, -ent

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

proponent proponents

Google-backed Promise is another Culver City-adjacent AI studio that’s a proponent of hybrid productions, where human actors work with AI specialists.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

His frequent collaborator Gabriel Zucman is a vocal proponent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

EA's three big causes today are global poverty, factory-farmed animals and "the most controversial one -- global catastrophic risk," said Richard Chappell, a professor at University of Miami and an EA proponent.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Bass said she always has been a proponent of approaches that don’t involve police, some of which are employed by her Office of Community Safety.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

In the 1970s, the famed Tyrolean alpinist Reinhold Messner emerged as the leading proponent of gasless climbing, declaring that he would ascend Everest “by fair means” or not at all.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Economists Gabriel Zucman and Emmanuel Saez, both French and affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley, are key proponents of the proposed California wealth tax.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

Meanwhile, Tennessee's proponents of capital punishment have suggested that a different method be used.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

In order to secure the large number of signatures, proponents of initiatives typically hire petition management companies, according to the indictment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

These robots should be able to do factory work, like sorting packages, and proponents also envision humanoids helping out with household chores and childcare, among other things.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026

It may be hard to believe, but proponents of the strong programme have acquired a dominant position within the history of science.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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Related Words

• advocate
• backer
• defender
• enthusiast
• exponent
• partisan
• patron
• protector
• supporter

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