noun
Common
advocate
AD-vuh-kuht
Advocate (noun) means a person who publicly supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or another person. Example: “As a long-time advocate of cycling, she persuaded the council to build safer lanes.”
noun
1
A person who publicly supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or another person.
"As a long-time advocate of cycling, she persuaded the council to build safer lanes."
"She became an outspoken advocate for renewable energy."
"He acted as an advocate for his younger brother during the dispute."
2
A lawyer, especially one who represents a client in court.
"The advocate spent weeks preparing her arguments before the hearing began."
"He trained as an advocate and now defends clients in the high court."
"In Scotland, a trial lawyer who appears in the higher courts is called an advocate."
verb
1
To publicly support or argue in favor of something.
"Many doctors advocate a short daily walk for people who sit all day."
"I don't advocate giving up, but we should rest before trying again."
"The report advocates stricter regulation of online privacy."
How to use advocate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo support or argue for something publicly (verb), or a person who does that, or a courtroom lawyer (noun).
Common mistake
As a verb, advocate is not usually followed by "for" in formal writing ("advocate change," not "advocate for change"), though "advocate for" is extremely common and accepted in everyday use.
Common pairings
advocate for
strong advocate
advocate change
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Word forms
- Plural
- advocates
- Third person singular
- advocates
- Past tense
- advocated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
As a long-time _____ of cycling, she persuaded the council to build safer lanes.
Etymology
From Latin advocātus, "one called to help," related to advocāre, "to call for" — a calque of the Greek term behind English "paraclete."
Synonyms
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supporter
champion
proponent
campaigner
defender
counsel
pleader
exponent
counsellor
advocator
counselor
preach
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for advocate
See all rhymes for 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.
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