proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt 
ˈprō-ˌpō-
: one who argues in favor of something : advocate
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Proponent comes from the same Latin word as propose, so a proponent is someone who proposes something, or at least supports it by speaking and writing in favor of it. Thus, for example, proponents of casinos argue that they create jobs, whereas proponents of a casino ban—that is, casino opponents—argue that they're corrupting and they take money away from people who can't afford it. As a rule, just about anything important that gets proposed also gets opposed.
Examples of proponent in a Sentence
a vocal proponent of the use of electric-powered cars
Recent Examples on the Web
Prospective visitors, along with park proponents, are concerned about what the parks and experiences may look like after the sweeping layoffs across the National Park Service and the larger federal government in February.
—
Eve Chen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
However, proponents and affordable housing advocates stress the urgency of building housing quickly on all available sites as the region grapples with a worsening housing crisis.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Lutnick, a wealthy businessman and key Trump campaign ally, has long been a proponent of using tariffs on imports from other countries to spur American manufacturing and penalize trade policies he’s deemed unfavorable.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025
Once the petition is submitted and approved by the Secretary of State’s office, petition proponents have 120 days to collect signatures.
—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proponent
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Eve Chen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
However, proponents and affordable housing advocates stress the urgency of building housing quickly on all available sites as the region grapples with a worsening housing crisis.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
Lutnick, a wealthy businessman and key Trump campaign ally, has long been a proponent of using tariffs on imports from other countries to spur American manufacturing and penalize trade policies he’s deemed unfavorable.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025
Once the petition is submitted and approved by the Secretary of State’s office, petition proponents have 120 days to collect signatures.
—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proponent
Cite this Entry
“Proponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proponent. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt
ˈprō-ˌpō-nənt
: one who argues in favor of something
a proponent of recycling
Legal Definition
proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt
1
: one who argues in favor of something
2
: one who offers a will for probate
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