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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

proponent proponents

Closer security ties among Pacific islands will also be discussed, despite the abrupt departure Monday of its proponent, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, to deal with a brewing political crisis at home.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 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

The government of Alberta and Keystone XL’s original proponent, TransCanada, now known as TC Energy, abandoned the expansion plans a few months after Biden revoked the permit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Geiger, however, remains a huge proponent of the system and was careful not to criticize how it’s been used in this World Cup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

He was a staunch proponent of academic freedom and highly critical of Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

In Bhutan's Paro, several hundred proponents of the idea are practicing everything from walking meditation to mindful eating -- slowing down to appreciate the taste, smell, texture and colours of food.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

No, peptides are not “legal” now, but proponents are applauding the outcome.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The downturn has been rough for even some of the space industry’s biggest proponents.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

And they’ve gotten smarter than the used-gum, spit-cup abstinence proponents of my youth.

From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026

Even Darwin, among the strongest original proponents of the fundamental mutability of nature, would have found this rate of mutation surprising.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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