proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt 
ˈprō-ˌpō-
: one who argues in favor of something : advocate
Did you know?
Proponent comes from the same Latin word as propose, so a proponent is someone who proposes something, or at least supports it by speaking and writing in favor of it. Thus, for example, proponents of casinos argue that they create jobs, whereas proponents of a casino ban—that is, casino opponents—argue that they're corrupting and they take money away from people who can't afford it. As a rule, just about anything important that gets proposed also gets opposed.
Examples of proponent in a Sentence
a vocal proponent of the use of electric-powered cars
Recent Examples on the Web
Even the most ardent proponents of AI are concerned.
—
Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
The proponents of this measure have even admitted unabashedly that this is part of a national effort to divide Coloradoans and drive turnout in the midterm elections.
—Mike Smith, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
But telecommunications firms might still balk at furnishing the data for fear they might be sued, Section 702 proponents say.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Hartsuch, a proponent of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, alleges that in December 2021, Kent Nebel, then the executive director of the Board of Medicine, indicated that 17 Iowa doctors had complaints filed against them for spreading false or misleading information about COVID-19.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proponent
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Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 13 Apr. 2026
The proponents of this measure have even admitted unabashedly that this is part of a national effort to divide Coloradoans and drive turnout in the midterm elections.
—Mike Smith, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
But telecommunications firms might still balk at furnishing the data for fear they might be sued, Section 702 proponents say.
—Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026
Hartsuch, a proponent of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19, alleges that in December 2021, Kent Nebel, then the executive director of the Board of Medicine, indicated that 17 Iowa doctors had complaints filed against them for spreading false or misleading information about COVID-19.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proponent
Cite this Entry
“Proponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proponent. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt
ˈprō-ˌpō-nənt
: one who argues in favor of something
a proponent of recycling
Legal Definition
proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt
1
: one who argues in favor of something
2
: one who offers a will for probate
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