advocate
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for advocate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who publicly supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or another person.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use advocate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin advocātus, "one called to help," related to advocāre, "to call for" — a calque of the Greek term behind English "paraclete."
Full origin of advocate →Frequently asked questions
What does “advocate” mean?
The word “advocate” means a person who publicly supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or another person. In plain terms, to support or argue for something publicly (verb), or a person who does that, or a courtroom lawyer (noun).
How do you pronounce “advocate”?
“Advocate” is pronounced AD-vuh-kuht (/ˈæd.və.kət/ in IPA).
How do you use “advocate” in a sentence?
Here is “advocate” used in a sentence: “She became an outspoken advocate for renewable energy.”
What part of speech is “advocate”?
Depending on how it is used, “advocate” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “advocate” come from?
The word “advocate” comes from Latin. From Latin advocātus, "one called to help," related to advocāre, "to call for" — a calque of the Greek term behind English "paraclete.".
Is “advocate” a common word?
“Advocate” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “advocate” have?
“Advocate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who publicly supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or another person.
What is the difference between an 'advocate' and a 'lawyer'?
In everyday use, an 'advocate' is a person who publicly supports or argues in favour of a cause, policy, or another person. In legal use, especially in Scotland and some other countries, an 'advocate' is a specific kind of lawyer who represents clients in court, similar to a barrister.
How does the pronunciation of 'advocate' change between noun and verb?
The noun 'advocate', meaning a supporter or a courtroom lawyer, ends in a softer 'uht' sound. The verb 'advocate', meaning to argue in favour of something, ends in a fuller 'ayt' sound, as in 'advocate for change'.
What preposition goes with 'advocate'?
As a noun, 'advocate' is usually followed by 'of' or 'for', as in 'an advocate of reform' or 'an advocate for children'. Both patterns show what cause or person the advocate supports.