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

The coalition of survivor parents seeking change at the federal level spans the ideological spectrum and has members with varying levels of advocacy experience in politics. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

The grim findings come from a survey of 524 disability care providers published Wednesday by ANCOR, an advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. — STAT, 2 Oct. 2026

The literary and free speech advocacy group PEN America documented 2,532 instances of book bans in public schools in 2021–22. — Susan Farrell, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026

Do No Harm and Students for Fair Admissions, two advocacy groups, sued the medical school over such allegations in May 2025. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

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