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advocate

advocate

282 4.1
A person who supports a cause or policy in public
  • noun
  • /ˈæd.və.keɪt/
translation icon : defensor
  • As music educators, we must act as advocates for ourselves and our content area.
  • rights advocates
  • a strong advocate
  • advocates and policymakers

And so they obviously know that I'm an advocate of huge goals.

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Examples

  • I am a great advocate of buying and owning physical gold, not paper gold.

  • James Garfield was an outspoken advocate of the gold standard.

  • And so, you know, he was this big advocate of of freedom.

  • And Matt is a great advocate of the how and the why of sleep.

  • And so they obviously know that I'm an advocate of huge goals.

  • So we want women to know to be advocates for themselves.

  • But now I'm such a huge advocate of doing the work.

  • The aim is to encourage people to become advocates and spread the word.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Both home and school must be strong advocates and believe that children can do well in mathematics.

    Academic text (2011)
  • As an environmentalist, she has always been a passionate advocate for sustainable living.

Synonyms

activist
vsadvocate
542 2.5

A person who campaigns for political or social change

focuses on public recommendation rather than organised, vigorous campaigning
champion
vsadvocate
156 3.7

A person who strongly supports a cause or another person

is about public recommendation and endorsement rather than personal defense
tribune
vsadvocate
117 8.3

A person who speaks for and defends the rights of others

recommends policies or causes publicly rather than acting as a defender of others
proponent
vsadvocate
104 5.2

A person who supports an idea, plan, or cause

publicly recommends policies or causes rather than only backing ideas
booster
vsadvocate
37 3.2

A person who supports and promotes a team, player, or cause

is about public recommending rather than merely boosting popularity
apologist
vsadvocate
34 7.9

A person who argues for a belief or policy

publicly recommends causes rather than primarily offering detailed defenses
crusader
vsadvocate
32 5.6

A person who campaigns strongly for social or political change

supports or recommends causes publicly but may lack intense campaigning focus
promoter
vsadvocate
31 4.2

A person who supports and encourages a cause or idea

focuses on recommending publicly rather than organizing or arranging support
adherent
vsadvocate
20 6.6

A person who supports a party, leader, or idea and helps promote it

is centered on public recommendation rather than group promotion or loyalty
evangelist
vsadvocate
  • Jargon
9 5.7

A person who strongly promotes a product or idea so other people will accept it

recommends policies or causes publicly but without commercial enthusiasm
exponent
vsadvocate
4 6.2

A person who supports and explains an idea or cause

focuses on public recommendation rather than explaining or leading representation
endorser
vsadvocate
3 4.4

A person who publicly supports someone or something

involves recommending policies or causes rather than formal approval alone
proselytizer
vsadvocate
  • US
2 8.9

A person who tries to convince others to follow a religion or belief

publicly recommends causes but is not defined by direct conversion efforts
ideologist
vsadvocate
2 7.9

A person who strongly supports a set of political or social beliefs

recommends specific policies publicly without being defined by ideology
vindicator
vsadvocate
1 8.7

A person who defends a belief, policy, or organization against criticism

focuses on recommending causes publicly rather than only defending them
evangelizer
vsadvocate
1 7.1

A person who strongly promotes a product, idea, or cause

focuses on public recommendation of causes rather than promotional zeal
justifier
vsadvocate
1 7.1

A person who gives reasons to support a policy or action

is about public recommendation rather than supplying justificatory arguments
espouser
vsadvocate
  • Formal
7.8

A person who supports and promotes an idea or cause

focuses on public recommendation of policies rather than private adoption
platformer
vsadvocate
7.6

A person who performs or speaks in public to support a cause

endorses or recommends causes publicly but is not limited to staged speeches
angel's advocate
vsadvocate
7.7

A person who defends people or ideas that others criticize

focuses on public recommendation broadly rather than moral or virtuous emphasis
inclinator
vsadvocate
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who tends to favor one opinion or action

publicly recommends causes actively rather than merely favoring them privately
advocator
vsadvocate
  • Archaic
6.8

A person who supports and speaks for a cause

emphasizes public recommendation of policies or causes rather than private support

Compounds

A person who says an opposite or unpopular opinion to start a discussion

judge advocate
  • Specialized
4 7.4

An officer in the military who gives legal advice and handles law for soldiers

1 9.1

A senior military lawyer who gives legal advice to a branch of the armed forces

A person who defends people or ideas that others criticize

How Active

activist
6 3.7
campaigner
27 3.7
advocate
282 4.1
supporter
817 1.0
sympathizer
37 4.8

Surface Forms

advocate singular
advocates plural

Etymology

The word advocate comes from Latin ad- 'to' and vocare 'to call', so it originally meant 'one called to speak for another'. That's why an advocate today is a person who speaks up and supports a cause.