advocate

American  

[ad-vuh-keyt, ad-vuh-kit, -keyt] / ˈæd vəˌkeɪt, ˈæd və kɪt, -ˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

advocated, advocating

1. to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

   He advocated higher salaries for teachers.

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verb (used without object)

advocated, advocating

1. to act as an advocate.

   a father who advocates for his disabled child.

noun

1. a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually followed byof ).

   an advocate of peace.

   Synonyms:

   backer, proponent, champion

2. a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.

3. a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.

   Synonyms:

   solicitor, barrister, counsel, counselor, attorney, lawyer

advocate British  

verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to support or recommend publicly; plead for or speak in favour of

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noun

1. a person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter

2. a person who intercedes on behalf of another

3. a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of law See also barrister solicitor counsellor

4. Scots law the usual word for barrister

Other Word Forms

• advocative adjective
• advocator noun
• advocatory adjective
• nonadvocate noun
• preadvocate noun
• readvocate verb (used with object)
• subadvocate noun
• unadvocated adjective
• well-advocated adjective

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

Example Sentences

Army Gen. Eric Kurilla, who led Central Command from 2022 to 2025, continued to advocate for that idea after McKenzie retired, according to former Pentagon officials.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Nesbitt became a private credit advocate: Cliffwater launched an index tracking performance, the firm shared research and Nesbitt wrote two books on the topic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The human rights advocate said one of her clients was held in a police station with dozens of others, but reported seeing many people released hourly - many of them French nationals.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

An association of attorneys who advocate for investors argues that the money would be better spent addressing unpaid arbitration awards.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Of course, that wasn’t realistic, the victim’s advocate couldn’t do all the work.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• back
• campaign for
• defend
• encourage
• favor
• further
• justify
• press for
• promote
• propose
• push
• recommend
• support
• tout
• uphold
• urge