proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt 
ˈprō-ˌpō-
: one who argues in favor of something : advocate
Did you know?
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
Ironically, bell-to-bell ban proponents like Britt-Friedman are also worried about children’s safety — but the danger that animates them is the phone itself.
—
Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, the hospital, which treats mostly people involved with the justice system, is expanding to alleviate the county’s overlapping mental health and homelessness crisis, in what proponents described as a more compassionate approach than in the past.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
But if that money isn’t enough, or if the proponents don’t identify any programs to cut, the ballot language would have to include a warning that the proposal would likely require cuts to Medicaid and school funding.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Bannon has used the term globalists to refer to Silicon Valley elites, media executives, neoconservative foreign-policy hawks, proponents of lightly regulated global markets, and Jared Kushner.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proponent
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Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2026
Now, the hospital, which treats mostly people involved with the justice system, is expanding to alleviate the county’s overlapping mental health and homelessness crisis, in what proponents described as a more compassionate approach than in the past.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
But if that money isn’t enough, or if the proponents don’t identify any programs to cut, the ballot language would have to include a warning that the proposal would likely require cuts to Medicaid and school funding.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026
Bannon has used the term globalists to refer to Silicon Valley elites, media executives, neoconservative foreign-policy hawks, proponents of lightly regulated global markets, and Jared Kushner.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proponent
Cite this Entry
“Proponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proponent. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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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