advocate

noun ad·vo·cate \ ˈad-və-kət , -ˌkāt \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Editor's Note: Benjamin Franklin Wasn't a Fan of advocate

Definition of advocate

1 : one who pleads the cause of another; specifically : one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court

2 : one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal

an advocate of liberal arts education

3 : one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group

a consumer advocate

an advocate for women's health

He has paid respectful attention to the home schooling movement by meeting with its advocates and endorsing their cause.
—Elizabeth Drew

See advocate defined for English-language learners

See advocate defined for kids

advocate was our Word of the Day on 01/09/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of advocate in a Sentence

… two of nanotechnology's biggest advocates square off on a fundamental question that will dramatically affect the future development of this field. —K. Eric Drexler et al., Chemical & Engineering News, 1 Dec. 2003
Ms. Hart was familiar with local medical-review policies from her work as a patient advocate. —Laurie McGinley, Wall Street Journal, 16 Sept. 2003
a passionate advocate of civil rights
She works as a consumer advocate.

Recent Examples of advocate from the Web

Wochit Eight percent of Arizona's children identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, according to advocates.

— lauren castle, azcentral, "Arizona groups offer health, housing help to LGBT youth," 14 July 2018
MCI-Norfolk, MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, and MCI-Concord were singled out for inspections based on reports conveyed to the state Department of Public Health by advocates for prisoners, said Ann Scales, a spokeswoman.

— laura crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, "Health inspectors visit prisons after receiving complaints about heat," 13 July 2018
But Barkley said that — given the immense pressure on lawmakers to raise significant revenue and the goal of health advocates for an increase in the cigarette tax of at least $1 a pack — tobacco companies were a winner with the final tax bill.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "A GOP group influential in Kentucky is funded by tobacco and casinos," 13 July 2018
In at least one of those cases, the firm sued the district on behalf of charter school advocates.

— anna m. phillips, latimes.com, "LAUSD postpones effort to raise new parcel tax," 11 July 2018
Now the form of protest has resurfaced as a tool used by gun-reform advocates.

— jenni corwin, Teen Vogue, "What Exactly a Die-In Is, and How to Organize Your Own," 6 July 2018
The agreement with Henry Guardian Advocates LLC provides for exclusive child advocacy services to the county’s Juvenile Court and Superior Court for attorney advocates for children and special-needs adults involved in court cases.

— monroe roark, ajc, "New contract approved for Henry County guardian ad litem services," 4 July 2018
But those weren’t the largest expenditures by charter school advocates in favor of Soto.

— steven lemongello, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Alan Grayson slams Darren Soto for his support from DeVos family, Texas billionaire in 2016," 26 June 2018
The moves are lauded by gun-safety advocates but criticized by the gun industry that views them as a backhanded way of undermining the Second Amendment.

— lisa marie pane, Anchorage Daily News, "Corporate America increasingly avoids gun-industry business," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'advocate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of advocate

Middle English avocat, advocat, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin advocātus, noun derivative from past participle of advocāre "to summon, call to one's aid," from ad- ad- + vocāre "to call" — more at vocation

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

advocate Synonyms

advocate

verb ad·vo·cate \ ˈad-və-ˌkāt \

Definition of advocate

advocated; advocating

transitive verb

: to support or argue for (a cause, policy, etc.) : to plead in favor of

They advocated a return to traditional teaching methods.

a group that advocates vegetarianism

intransitive verb

: to act as advocate for someone or something

… a tradition of advocating for the equality and civil rights of all people …
—Fred Kuhr

—

advocation

play \ˌad-və-ˈkā-shən\ noun

—

advocative

play \ˈad-və-ˌkā-tiv\ adjective

- Its mission is now more advocative—to represent business interests on local, state and national issues that affect the Southland.
- —Nancy Yoshihara

—

advocator

play \-ˌkā-tər\ noun

See advocate defined for English-language learners

Examples of advocate in a Sentence

… it makes sense to commence with … a good medium-weight Chardonnay for the wine aficionados. I advocate one with a little oak and lots of fruit … —Anthony Dias Blue, Bon Appétit, November 1997
He advocated the creation of a public promenade along the sea, with arbors and little green tables for the consumption of beer … —Henry James, The American, 1877
He advocates traditional teaching methods.
The plan is advocated by the president.

Recent Examples of advocate from the Web

Bly advocates for Tanner, as does Anthony Alston, who became Tanner’s pen pal when he was deployed in the Army.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Gary boxer convicted of leading gang was denied clemency by Obama, now seeks release under Trump," 6 July 2018
Still, groups that advocate for lower-income Ohioans worry that reducing payments might hurt children.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Changes are coming to child support in Ohio. What it means for your payments.," 2 July 2018
This newspaper has long advocated Mr Assad’s removal as the best way to end Syria’s nightmare.

— The Economist, "Syrian refugees could turn into the new Palestinians," 30 June 2018
Graham advocated for limiting consumption of meats, alcohol, and refined grains, not as a way to diminish our waistlines, but our libidos.

— kevin klatt, SELF, "Why Weight Loss Diets Fail," 26 June 2018
However, she's remained in the public eye, balancing her podcast, Conversations With Maria, and her SirusXM daily radio show with her most recent role as Rally Health's newest Ambassador, advocating for health and health care across the country.

— kara ladd, Redbook, "5 Wellness Tips Maria Menounos Learned After a Terrifying Diagnosis," 21 June 2018
As cycling advocates fight for bike safety measures, one lawyer has been the community’s right-hand man.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "Shooting at Trenton arts fest, Jersey Shore feels the heat of climate change | Morning Newsletter," 18 June 2018
So far, five Black trans women have been killed in 2018, alarming LGBTQ groups that advocate for the community.

— britni danielle, Essence.com, "Ashlee Marie Preston Honors Murdered Trans Women On Her Birthday With Bold New Campaign," 14 June 2018
Cunningham has long advocated on behalf of veterans, pushing for the creation of the Poway Veterans Park and attempting, without success, to have property on Twin Peaks Road developed into housing for veterans.

— steve dreyer, Pomerado News, "Cunnigham saluted by council members, vets," 6 June 2018

Benjamin Franklin Wasn't a Fan of advocate

Benjamin Franklin may have been a great innovator in science and politics, but on the subject of advocate, he was against change. In 1789, he wrote a letter to his compatriot Noah Webster complaining about a "new word": the verb advocate. Like others of his day, Franklin knew advocate primarily as a noun meaning "one who pleads the cause of another," and he urged Webster to condemn the verb's use. In truth, the verb wasn't as new as Franklin assumed (etymologists have traced it back to 1599), though it was apparently surging in popularity in his day. Webster evidently did not heed Franklin's plea. His famous 1828 dictionary, An American Dictionary of the English Language, entered both the noun and the verb senses of advocate.

Origin and Etymology of advocate

derivative of ¹advocate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1599

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

advocate Synonyms

Synonyms

back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), support;

Near Antonyms

baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart;

desert, disappoint, fail, let down;

Related Words

adopt, embrace, espouse;

abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with);

backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce);

advance, forward, further;

plug, preach, talk up;

Phrases

go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for;

Synonym Discussion of advocate

support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition. support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

- supports waterfront development

uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

- upheld the legitimacy of the military action

advocate stresses urging or pleading.

- advocated prison reform

back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

- refusing to back the call for sanctions

champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

- championed the rights of children

ADVOCATE Defined for English Language Learners

advocate

noun

Definition of advocate for English Language Learners

: a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy
: a person who works for a cause or group
: a person who argues for the cause of another person in a court of law

ADVOCATE Defined for Kids

advocate

noun ad·vo·cate \ ˈad-və-kət , -ˌkāt \

Definition of advocate for Students

1 : a person who argues for or supports an idea or plan

peace advocates

2 : a person who argues for another especially in court

advocate

verb ad·vo·cate \ ˈad-və-ˌkāt \

Definition of advocate for Students

advocated; advocating

: to speak in favor of : argue for

advocate change

Law Dictionary

advocate

noun ad·vo·cate \ ˈad-və-kət, -ˌkāt \

legal Definition of advocate

1 : a person (as a lawyer) who works and argues in support of another's cause especially in court

2 : a person or group that defends or maintains a cause or proposal

a consumer advocate

Origin and Etymology of advocate

Latin advocatus adviser to a party in a lawsuit, counselor, from past participle of advocare to summon, employ as counsel, from ad to + vocare to call