- to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly: He advocated higher salaries for teachers.
- to act as an advocate: a father who advocates for his disabled child.
- a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually followed by of): an advocate of peace.
- a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
- a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
Origin of advocate
SynonymsSee more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
Examples from the Web for advocate
I am fighting that quota because I am an advocate of competition.Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea
December 30, 2014
Another step is to require a lawyer or advocate present during questioning of people with ID.How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities
December 16, 2014
How, then, are LGBT people to advocate for their rights (civil, human, or otherwise) if they cannot even identify themselves?The Straight Hero of Cameroon’s Gays
December 10, 2014
They possessed “wisdom beyond their years,” observed The Advocate.
Hughes and Eldridge are not “role models for a future generation of… gay people,” as The Advocate absurdly stated.
It was then that he again came to the front to advocate a just cause.The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
I want you, moreover, to advocate our American doctrine of Protection.
I should like to consult my own advocate to see what I can do.The Imaginary Invalid
Have the great men of England chosen you for their advocate?Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward II
Charlotte Mary Yonge
So the advocate cross-examined, though it cannot be said that he had the better of Betty.Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard
- (tr; may take a clause as object) to support or recommend publicly; plead for or speak in favour of
Word Origin and History for advocate
mid-14c., "one whose profession is to plead cases in a court of justice," a technical term from Roman law, from Old French avocat "barrister, advocate, spokesman," from Latin advocatus "one called to aid; a pleader, advocate," noun use of past participle of advocare "to call" (as witness or advisor) from ad- "to" (see ad-) + vocare "to call," related to vocem (see voice (n.)). Also in Middle English as "one who intercedes for another," and "protector, champion, patron." Feminine forms advocatess, advocatrice were in use in 15c.
1640s, from advocate (n.). Related: Advocated; advocating; advocation.