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.

---

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

---

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

Mobile-home parks that once provided a cheap option are becoming pricier, as large companies acquire them and raise rents on the land beneath, according to advocates for residents.

From The Wall Street Journal

For one thing, notes UC Berkeley economist Gabriel Zucman, an advocate of wealth taxes generally, “it has become impossible to avoid the tax by leaving the state.”

From Los Angeles Times

The lawsuits have spurred more scrutiny from parents, child safety advocates and lawmakers, including in California, who passed new laws last year aimed at making chatbots safer.

From Los Angeles Times

In Altadena, a coalition of lawmakers, survivors and advocates at the Collaboratory community center set the tone for the second year of recovery.

From Los Angeles Times

Pace Mr. Miller, it didn’t advocate freedom for the sake of freedom, or elections as a good in themselves, even if the overwrought text of Mr. Bush’s Second Inaugural address lent itself to that parody.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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