advocate

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

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

Arms control advocates are trying to prevent more nations from acquiring nuclear weapons.

— rick noack, Washington Post, "The large-scale tragedies that mostly went unnoticed, and 5 other global stories," 31 Aug. 2017
The possible demise of DACA has immigrant advocates rethinking their strategy and focus.

— nina shapiro, The Seattle Times, "Inslee vows to fight for Dreamers as Trump decision looms," 30 Aug. 2017
Leading that effort is the ad hoc committee of Kern, acting Mayor Chuck Lowery, patient advocate Gloria Ryan and physician Wendy Wiehl.

— phil diehl, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Oceanside continues crafting medical marijuana ordinance," 30 Aug. 2017
More Videos 2:30 Couple: Google Fiber dig destroyed our well, water and health Pause 3:28 Advocates call for affordable housing action 2:14 Want to try house-flipping?

— rick rothacker, charlotteobserver, "Couple says Google Fiber damaged their well. Now he’s worried he will need new liver.," 29 Aug. 2017
Advocates insist that the children of poor immigrants will automatically vault into the bourgeoisie, closing the fiscal gap and then some.

— reihan salam, National Review, "The Case for Skills-Based Immigration," 28 Aug. 2017
But with Trump in the White House and people like Price and Huber at HHS, abstinence-only advocates are having a huge moment—and teens and young adults, especially those in the most vulnerable communities, will suffer because of it.

— maggie mallon, Glamour, "Yet Another Study Confirms Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Doesn't Work—But the Trump Administration Still Wants to Fund It," 25 Aug. 2017
Barbara Allen, a substance abuse education advocate who has also lost three family members to substance abuse, echoed Elder’s point, and specifically noted the need for more sober housing for women in the region.

— kate magill, Howard County Times, "Howard community members brainstorm opioid epidemic strategies at workshop," 25 Aug. 2017
Joining the NSC will be a team of Illinois survivor advocates, local, grassroots organizations and former NBA basketball player Rex Chapman, who developed an addiction to prescription painkillers after multiple injuries and surgeries.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31," 24 Aug. 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

advocate Synonyms

Synonyms

exponent, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, champion, expounder, espouser, friend, gospeler (or gospeller), herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight

Antonyms

adversary, antagonist, opponent

Related Words

loyalist, partisan (also partizan), stalwart; adherent, cohort, disciple, follower; interpreter; applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler

Near Antonyms

enemy, foe, rival; belittler, critic, faultfinder

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

—

advocation

play \ˌad-və-ˈkā-shən\ noun

—

advocative

play \ˈad-və-ˌkā-tiv\ adjective

—

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

A growing list of Northern Kentucky schools is advocating voluntary drug testing clubs that ask students to go beyond pledging to be drug-free.

— chris mayhew, Cincinnati.com, "NKY schools get behind voluntary drug test clubs," 30 Aug. 2017
But that hasn’t stopped him from participating in Crossfit or from advocating for colorectal cancer awareness.

— Southern Living, "Alabama Man Celebrates 10th Anniversary of His Cancer Diagnosis with Giant Party," 28 Aug. 2017
Fair, who advocates a tough U.S. position on Pakistan, said Pakistan, like other countries, is obliged by international law to prevent terrorists from operating on its soil.

— krishnadev calamur, The Atlantic, "How the U.S. Can Pressure Pakistan," 24 Aug. 2017
In a lengthy blog post, PayPal outlined its long-standing policy of not allowing its services to be used to accept payments or donations to organizations that advocate racist views.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Silicon Valley steps up war against hate groups," 17 Aug. 2017
Researchers who use ZooMS tend to question CIEP’s accuracy; CIEP advocates point out ZooMS’ destructive nature.

— gemma tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Proteomics: Moving Beyond DNA to Study the Past," 15 Aug. 2017
Some council members have advocated that a portion be used for health insurance.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Cops seek portion of Merrillville's expected $500K from state," 11 Aug. 2017
Johnson and the commission settled on a de-escalation policy advocated by the Obama administration’s Justice Department.

— joe domanick, Los Angeles Magazine, "How the Police Commission Got the LAPD to Buy Into De-Escalation," 13 July 2017
Mitchell commanded all American air combat units in France by the end of World War I, and after the war was appointed deputy director of the air service and advocated for air power, according to Russell's application.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora set to restore World War I memorial along downtown bridge," 13 July 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1599

See Words from the same year

advocate Synonyms

Synonyms

support, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for)

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; bail out, deliver, rescue, save

Near Antonyms

baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down

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