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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
From the M-W Editors
advocate was our Word of the Day on 01/09/2015. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
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
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Kristin Forbes, the leading advocate of higher rates, is being replaced by economics professor Silvana Tenreyro.
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In May, the advocate general designated Uber as a transportation company, rather than a digital service, that would thus have to comply with regional rules.
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Amidst the adulation, many LGBTQ-rights advocates recognize that this new crop of gay-friendly world leaders still has room to grow.
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Sutton, joined by Rev. Ron D. Robinson, an associate minister and social justice advocate, called for a special election for Johnson's seat.
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Today, some gun-rights advocates have argued that African Americans would be best served to get gun licenses.
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This is good news for immigration advocates, but voters who counted on Trump to restrict immigration may see it as a betrayal.
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Their report, which has been circulated among key personnel but not publicly released, firmly sides with advocates of a simpler design.
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The announcement puts Gimenez on the opposite side of Miami-Dade’s environmentalist advocates, who lobbied to defeat the 836 proposal and brand it as an assault on the Urban Development Boundary.
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 advocat, from Anglo-French, from Latin advocatus, from past participle of advocare to summon, from ad- + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at voice
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
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
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Founded in Maiduguri in 2002 by a charismatic preacher who advocated a fundamentalist interpretation of the Quran, Boko Haram evolved into a full-fledged insurgency in 2009, eventually taking control of an area greater than the size of Belgium.
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Even after an election campaign seemingly called over Brexit, the debate about the different options for the future relationship with the EU remains so superficial that decision-makers could end up advocating all sorts of arrangements.
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Berry advocates for finding missing people and hosts a daily news segment on Cleveland's Fox 8.
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Corbyn, meanwhile, has advocated for getting rid of university tuition fees, increasing taxes on the wealthiest five percent, improving labor laws, and investing in infrastructure.
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Harford Councilman Joe Woods is a member of the organization's legislative committee, which means frequent travel to Annapolis during the session to advocate on behalf of Harford and other counties.
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The NCFS brought together diverse stakeholders including forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, victims’ advocates, law enforcement, and practicing independent scientists.
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The court’s move frustrated some activists who advocated for the legislation.
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Rogers spent her career advocating for better education and has written and carried numerous pieces of legislation in support of education.
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.
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
see 1advocate
Synonym Discussion of advocate
ADVOCATE Defined for English Language Learners
advocate
playDefinition of advocate for English Language Learners
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: a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy
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: a person who works for a cause or group
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: a person who argues for the cause of another person in a court of law
ADVOCATE Defined for Kids
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
Definition of advocate for Students
advocated
;advocating
: to speak in favor of : argue for advocate change
Law Dictionary
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
Legal Definition of advocate
advocated
advocating
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Learn More about advocate
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See words that rhyme with advocate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for advocate Spanish Central: Translation of advocate Nglish: Translation of advocate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of advocate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about advocate
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