advocate
1 of 2noun
ad·vo·cate ˈad-və-kət 
-ˌkāt
-ˌkāt 1
: one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal
an advocate of liberal arts education
2
: one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group
a consumer advocate
an advocate for women's health
He has paid respectful attention to the home schooling movement by meeting with its advocates and endorsing their cause.
Elizabeth Drew
Elizabeth Drew3
: one who pleads the cause of another
specifically : one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court
advocate
2 of 2verb
ad·vo·cate ˈad-və-ˌkāt
advocated; advocating
transitive verb
: to support or argue for (a cause, policy, etc.) : to plead in favor of
They advocated a return to traditional teaching methods.
a group that advocates vegetarianism
intransitive verb
: to act as advocate for someone or something
… a tradition of advocating for the equality and civil rights of all people … Fred Kuhr
Fred Kuhr advocation
ˌad-və-ˈkā-shən
noun advocative
ˈad-və-ˌkā-tiv
adjective Its mission is now more advocative—to represent business interests on local, state and national issues that affect the Southland. Nancy Yoshihara
Nancy Yoshihara advocator
ˈad-və-ˌkā-tər
noun 
Did you know?
Benjamin Franklin Wasn't a Fan of Advocate
Benjamin Franklin may have been a great innovator in science and politics, but on the subject of advocate, he was against change. In 1789, he wrote a letter to his compatriot Noah Webster complaining about a "new word": the verb advocate. Like others of his day, Franklin knew advocate primarily as a noun meaning "one who pleads the cause of another," and he urged Webster to condemn the verb's use. In truth, the verb wasn't as new as Franklin assumed (etymologists have traced it back as far as 1599), though it was apparently surging in popularity in his day. Webster evidently did not heed Franklin's plea. His famous 1828 dictionary, An American Dictionary of the English Language, entered both the noun and the verb senses of advocate.
Synonyms
Noun
- advocator
- apostle
- backer
- booster
- champion
- espouser
- exponent
- expounder
- friend
- gospeler
- gospeller
- herald
- hierophant
- high priest
- paladin
- promoter
- proponent
- protagonist
- supporter
- true believer
- tub-thumper
- white knight
Verb
- back
- champion
- endorse
- indorse
- patronize
- plump (for)
- plunk (for)
- plonk (for)
- support
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun … two of nanotechnology's biggest advocates square off on a fundamental question that will dramatically affect the future development of this field. K. Eric Drexler et al., Chemical & Engineering News, 1 Dec. 2003 Ms. Hart was familiar with local medical-review policies from her work as a patient advocate. Laurie McGinley, Wall Street Journal, 16 Sept. 2003 a passionate advocate of civil rights She works as a consumer advocate. Verb … it makes sense to commence with … a good medium-weight Chardonnay for the wine aficionados. I advocate one with a little oak and lots of fruit … Anthony Dias Blue, Bon Appétit, November 1997 He advocated the creation of a public promenade along the sea, with arbors and little green tables for the consumption of beer … Henry James, The American, 1877 He advocates traditional teaching methods. The plan is advocated by the president. See More
K. Eric Drexler et al., Chemical & Engineering News, 1 Dec. 2003 Ms. Hart was familiar with local medical-review policies from her work as a patient advocate. Laurie McGinley, Wall Street Journal, 16 Sept. 2003 a passionate advocate of civil rights She works as a consumer advocate. Verb … it makes sense to commence with … a good medium-weight Chardonnay for the wine aficionados. I advocate one with a little oak and lots of fruit … Anthony Dias Blue, Bon Appétit, November 1997 He advocated the creation of a public promenade along the sea, with arbors and little green tables for the consumption of beer … Henry James, The American, 1877 He advocates traditional teaching methods. The plan is advocated by the president. See More Recent Examples on the Web oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2022 About 40% of carbon emissions stems from buildings, so such incentives could help the U.S. achieve its goal of lowering fossil-fuel emissions, said Lauren Urbanek, senior energy policy advocate at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense League. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 The White House’s top advocate for the nation’s 33.2 million small businesses visited San Diego this week. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 One of those critics, a prominent animal rights advocate, stood before the county commission Thursday and made her discontent quite clear, going so far as to demand Wood be fired. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The criminal justice advocate and law student also shared some details about her forthcoming true crime podcast on Spotify. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 An app built by Bay Area Powerwall owner and electrification advocate Rick Davis tracks the amount of electricity the batteries send back to the grid. Erica Werner, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Parent advocate Vernee Wilkinson pressed administrators for a plan to provide makeup work to students who miss out because of transportation issues. Christopher Huffaker, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 As Monbiot, a British environmental writer and advocate, knows better than most, these difficulties make growing even a small supplement to our diet an uncertain and time-consuming exercise. Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 While in the governor’s office, Chatterjee worked extensively with Rep. Karin Power and Calderon to write and advocate for House Bill 3073. oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2022 The two organizations are working together to mobilize employer-purchasers, educate policymakers, and advocate for public policies to reduce health care prices. Elizabeth Mitchell And Mike Thompson, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 Enlarge / Delivery workers in NYC have banded together to protect their bikes, improve conditions and wages, and, now, advocate against an outright e-bike ban in public housing. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2022 There are humanitarian and technocratic reasons to advocate for a Social Security agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Aug. 2022 The release also states that HSE and the teacher apologized to the Shahnavaz family and says HSE does not advocate for defunding the police. Madison Smalstig, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Aug. 2022 The groups the coalition will support include those that register Black voters, educate Latino evangelical communities on the issues that matter to them, and advocate for the restoration of voting rights for people with a felony conviction. Ellie Silverman, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 The groups the coalition will support include those that register Black voters, educate Latino evangelical communities on the issues that matter to them, and advocate for the restoration of voting rights for people with a felony conviction. Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
The idea of offering nightly rentals of homes on wheels was the brain child of former Portland school teacher Deb Delman and small-house advocate Kol Peterson. oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2022 About 40% of carbon emissions stems from buildings, so such incentives could help the U.S. achieve its goal of lowering fossil-fuel emissions, said Lauren Urbanek, senior energy policy advocate at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense League. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 The White House’s top advocate for the nation’s 33.2 million small businesses visited San Diego this week. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 One of those critics, a prominent animal rights advocate, stood before the county commission Thursday and made her discontent quite clear, going so far as to demand Wood be fired. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 The criminal justice advocate and law student also shared some details about her forthcoming true crime podcast on Spotify. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 An app built by Bay Area Powerwall owner and electrification advocate Rick Davis tracks the amount of electricity the batteries send back to the grid. Erica Werner, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Parent advocate Vernee Wilkinson pressed administrators for a plan to provide makeup work to students who miss out because of transportation issues. Christopher Huffaker, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 As Monbiot, a British environmental writer and advocate, knows better than most, these difficulties make growing even a small supplement to our diet an uncertain and time-consuming exercise. Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
Two grieving parents are opening up about the death of their teenage son, who succumbed to a severe asthma attack last month, in hopes of encouraging other parents to listen to their instincts and advocate for their children. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 While in the governor’s office, Chatterjee worked extensively with Rep. Karin Power and Calderon to write and advocate for House Bill 3073. oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2022 The two organizations are working together to mobilize employer-purchasers, educate policymakers, and advocate for public policies to reduce health care prices. Elizabeth Mitchell And Mike Thompson, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 Enlarge / Delivery workers in NYC have banded together to protect their bikes, improve conditions and wages, and, now, advocate against an outright e-bike ban in public housing. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2022 There are humanitarian and technocratic reasons to advocate for a Social Security agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. Michael Taylor, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Aug. 2022 The release also states that HSE and the teacher apologized to the Shahnavaz family and says HSE does not advocate for defunding the police. Madison Smalstig, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Aug. 2022 The groups the coalition will support include those that register Black voters, educate Latino evangelical communities on the issues that matter to them, and advocate for the restoration of voting rights for people with a felony conviction. Ellie Silverman, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 The groups the coalition will support include those that register Black voters, educate Latino evangelical communities on the issues that matter to them, and advocate for the restoration of voting rights for people with a felony conviction. Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English avocat, advocat, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin advocātus, noun derivative from past participle of advocāre "to summon, call to one's aid," from ad- ad- + vocāre "to call" — more at vocation
Verb
derivative of advocate entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Verb
1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing advocate
Kids Definition
advocate 1 of 2
noun
ad·vo·cate ˈad-və-kət
-ˌkāt
1
: a person who argues for or supports an idea or plan
peace advocates
2
: a person who argues for another especially in court
advocate
2 of 2verb
ad·vo·cate ˈad-və-ˌkāt
advocated; advocating
: to speak in favor of : argue for
advocate change
Legal Definition
advocate 1 of 2
noun
ad·vo·cate ˈad-və-kət, -ˌkāt
1
: a person (as a lawyer) who works and argues in support of another's cause especially in court
2
: a person or group that defends or maintains a cause or proposal
a consumer advocate
advocate
2 of 2verb
ad·vo·cate ˈad-və-ˌkāt
advocated; advocating
transitive verb
: to argue in favor of
intransitive verb
: to act as an advocate
shall advocate for minority business V. M. Rivera
V. M. Riveraadvocate 1 of 2
noun
1
as in proponent
a person who actively supports or favors a cause Mark Twain, Noah Webster, and President Theodore Roosevelt are among past advocates of a reformed spelling system Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- proponent
- advocator
- supporter
- exponent
- promoter
- champion
- friend
- apostle
- booster
- protagonist
- white knight
- expounder
- herald
- paladin
- hierophant
- true believer
- high priest
- espouser
- tub-thumper
- stalwart
- gospeller
- adherent
- loyalist
- interpreter
- backer
- disciple
- gospeler
- partizan
- cheerleader
- encourager
- follower
- partisan
- cohort
- fellow traveler
- applauder
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adversary
- opponent
- antagonist
- enemy
- critic
- foe
- rival
- faultfinder
- belittler
2
as in lawyer
a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations with such a strong case against him, he's going to need the best advocate that money can buy Synonyms & Similar Words
- lawyer
- attorney
- counselor
- counsel
- counsellor
- solicitor
- solicitor
- counselor-at-law
- prosecutor
- attorney-at-law
- legal eagle
- legislator
- jurist
- cocounsel
- trial lawyer
- mouthpiece
- criminal lawyer
- prosecuting attorney
- district attorney
- lawmaker
- shyster
- public defender
- ambulance chaser
- lawgiver
- solon
- pettifogger
- Philadelphia lawyer
advocate
2 of 2verb
as in to endorse
to promote the interests or cause of environmentalists advocating agricultural methods designed to slow the destruction of rain forests Synonyms & Similar Words
- endorse
- support
- champion
- embrace
- adopt
- patronize
- help
- assist
- back
- aid
- indorse
- stick up for
- preach
- espouse
- stand up for
- reinforce
- hold a brief for
- plump (for)
- plunk (for)
- save
- abet
- bolster
- go to bat for
- forward
- go in for
- rescue
- backstop
- plonk (for)
- second
- buttress
- further
- advance
- reenforce
- talk up
- boost
- bail out
- plug
- side (with)
- prop (up)
- deliver
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- oppose
- interfere
- thwart
- frustrate
- sabotage
- fail
- foil
- let down
- baffle
- disappoint
- desert
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of advocate are back, champion, support, and uphold. While all these words mean "to favor actively one that meets opposition," advocate stresses urging or pleading.
advocated prison reform
Although the words back and advocate have much in common, back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.
refusing to back the call for sanctions
In some situations, the words champion and advocate are roughly equivalent. However, champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.
championed the rights of children
The synonyms support and advocate are sometimes interchangeable, but support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.
supports waterfront development
While the synonyms uphold and advocate are close in meaning, uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.
upheld the legitimacy of the military action
- motor unit
- motor vehicle
- motor vehicles
- motor vessel
- motor-generator set
- motor-lorry
- motor-minded
- motor-mindedness
- motorable
- motorbicycles
- motorbike
- motorbiked
- motorbikes
- motorbiking
- motorboat
- motorboater
- motorboaters
- motorboating
- motorboatings
- motorboats
- motorbuses
- motorbusses
- motorcade
- motorcaded
- motorcades