proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt 
ˈprō-ˌpō-
: one who argues in favor of something : advocate
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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
That Greengrass and Ingelsby would want to zero their focus in more tightly on McKay and Ludwig’s story (producer Jamie Lee Curtis was also a major proponent of centering the film on the story of the bus itself) is understandable enough.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
While the Pacific Northwest has a long history with right-wing extremist organizing, the proponents of whites-only communities have also targeted areas of the Northeast as possible locations for a white ethnostate.
—Paul J. Becker, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
His mother Miuccia Prada, also understood to have been one of the main proponents of buying Versace, will not be involved in that brand’s creative process, Guerra has said.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
In this case, the girl in question is former Riverdale football proponent KJ Apa.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proponent
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Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
While the Pacific Northwest has a long history with right-wing extremist organizing, the proponents of whites-only communities have also targeted areas of the Northeast as possible locations for a white ethnostate.
—Paul J. Becker, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
His mother Miuccia Prada, also understood to have been one of the main proponents of buying Versace, will not be involved in that brand’s creative process, Guerra has said.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
In this case, the girl in question is former Riverdale football proponent KJ Apa.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proponent
Cite this Entry
“Proponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proponent. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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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