advocate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually followed byof ).
an advocate of peace.
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a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
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a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
verb
noun
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a person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter
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a person who intercedes on behalf of another
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a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of law See also barrister solicitor counsellor
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Scots law the usual word for barrister
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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advocatornoun
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nonadvocatenoun
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preadvocatenoun
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subadvocatenoun
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preadvocateverb (used with object)
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readvocateverb (used with object)
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advocativeadjective
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advocatoryadjective
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unadvocatedadjective
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well-advocatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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advocatesimple
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advocatessimple
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have advocatedperfect
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has advocatedperfect
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am advocatingprogressive
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are advocatingprogressive
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is advocatingprogressive
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have been advocatingperfect progressive
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has been advocatingperfect progressive
Past
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advocatedsimple
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had advocatedperfect
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was advocatingprogressive
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were advocatingprogressive
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had been advocatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of advocate
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin advocātus “legal counselor,” originally past participle of advocāre “to call to one's aid,” equivalent to ad- ad- + vocāre “to call” (akin to vōx voice ); replacing Middle English avocat, from Middle French
Explanation
An advocate (AD-və-kit) is someone who supports a cause, like an advocate for outdoor recess. Advocate (AD-və-kate) is also a verb meaning to speak in favor of, so you can advocate for that outdoor recess by urging your school to play outside! As a noun, an advocate is a person who represents another person’s interests, like a lawyer does. In fact, the word comes from the courtroom — it’s from Latin advocare, to “add” a “voice.” To advocate is to add a voice of support to a cause or person. An advocate is anyone who adds that voice by representing another person in court, or by supporting or working toward a particular course of action.
Vocabulary lists containing advocate
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Endocrine Society, on the other hand, doesn’t advocate screenings for all troops.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
"While known to many as a genius songwriter and storyteller, for us, he was threefold that, in his generosity, a true advocate for our work and a giant in the fight against homelessness," it continued.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
And he said it was “entirely appropriate” for financial advisers to advocate for their clients.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
He’s an advocate of the practice, as TV viewers discovered Sunday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Indeed, had not Madison been the most ardent advocate at the Constitutional Convention for a clear assertion of federal sovereignty?
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Meanwhile, high profile AI advocates have found themselves booed by students who fear that AI will replace many graduate level jobs.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Environmental advocates and many communities view the law—and the analysis it requires—as an essential way to understand major developments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
But advocates for immigrants said the change leaves asylum seekers who tried to follow the law vulnerable to deportation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
EdChoice, a group that advocates for these plans, estimated that more than 1.5 million students are taking advantage of them.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The Internet has accomplished what even the most fervent consumer advocates usually cannot: it has vastly shrunk the gap between the experts and the public.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
In a report last year, external, the Centre for Cities think tank advocated a devolved authority for the Glasgow City region which would "match policymaking and powers to the city-region's economy".
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Perhaps the answer could be some combination of taxing gains at death and taxing inheritances under the federal income tax, as recently advocated by my colleague Ray Madoff.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
In recent years, Ledward has advocated for colon cancer awareness and spoken at multiple events.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Instead, he has advocated for a more targeted approach in which rent increases are based on the physical condition of a building.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Gandhi had read Henry David Thoreau, who advocated exactly this view.
From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson
Meanwhile, Chevron—the only U.S. oil major currently active in Venezuela—is advocating that the country keep pushing to create a more competitive landscape for foreign investments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Millard said Niesr was advocating for cost-of-living measures to be funded through higher taxes – "which could involve tax reform rather than higher marginal rates" – or spending cuts.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Angie Gonzalez, 22, said Mazariegos earned her support because of his work advocating for tenant rights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Like many of the artists and activists being targeted today, Smith’s writings advocating peace and equality for all people made her a primary target of the state.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
That autumn, on October 14, 1964, I heard that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating a policy of nonviolence.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
