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View synonyms for devil's advocate

devil's advocate

[ dev-uhlz ad-vuh-kit ]

noun

  1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular cause for the sake of argument or to expose it to a thorough examination.
  2. Also called Pro·mot·er of the Faith [pr, uh, -, moh, -ter , uh, v , th, uh, , feyth]. Roman Catholic Church. an official appointed to present arguments against a proposed beatification or canonization of a beatus.


devil's advocate

noun

  1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular view, often for the sake of argument
  2. RC Church the official appointed to put the case against the beatification or canonization of a candidate Technical namepromotor fideiprəʊˈməʊtɔː fɪˈdeɪiː
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of devil's advocate1

First recorded in 1750–60; translation of New Latin advocātus diabolī; advocate ( def ), diabolic ( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of devil's advocate1

translation of New Latin advocātus diabolī
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Idioms and Phrases

One who argues against a cause or position either for the sake of argument or to help determine its validity. For example, My role in the campaign is to play devil's advocate to each new policy before it's introduced to the public . This term comes from the Roman Catholic Church, where advocatus diaboli (Latin for “devil's advocate”) signifies an official who is appointed to present arguments against a proposed canonization or beatification. It was transferred to wider use in the mid-1700s.

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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.

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