advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē 

: the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal : the act or process of advocating (see advocate entry 2) something

known for his advocacy of gay rights

Examples of advocacy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An ad featuring her advocacy of giving conversion surgery to transgender prison inmates was, it’s widely believed, the single most effective spot of the campaign. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 19 June 2025

Under pressure from anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck, Ford, Lowe’s and other major brands distanced themselves from the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, and withdrew from its benchmark index that measures how friendly a company’s policies are to LGBTQ+ people. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 19 June 2025

The Federal Trade Commission has launched investigations into the liberal advocacy group, Media Matters for America, over claims the organization deterred companies from advertising on Elon Musk’s X. —Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025

Social Security advocacy groups have called for lawmakers to prioritize taking action. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English advocacie "intercession," borrowed from Anglo-French advocassie "pleading," borrowed from Medieval Latin advocatia "patronage," from Latin advocātus advocate entry 1 + -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing advocacy

• advocacy journalism

Kids Definition

advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē 

: the act or process of advocating : support

Legal Definition

advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē 

1

: the profession or work of an advocate

2

: the action of advocating, pleading for, or supporting a cause or proposal

a consequence of his moving advocacy

—W. O. Douglas