Link Centre Dictionary

advocate

ad·vo·cate

UK/ˈæd.və.kət/ US/ˈæd.və.keɪt/ fairly common
verb (2) noun (2)

verb

1.

push for something

  • “The travel agent recommended strongly that we not travel on Thanksgiving Day”
Synonyms
2.

speak, plead, or argue in favour of

  • “The doctor advocated a smoking ban in the entire house”
Synonyms

noun

1.

a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea

Synonyms
2.

Origin

From Middle English advocat, advoket, from Old French advocat, from Latin advocātus (“an advocate”), from the substantivization of the perfect passive participle of advocāre (“to call for”) (see -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from a calque of Ancient Greek παράκλητος (paráklētos) (whence English paraclete). Doublet of advoke, avocat, avouch, and avow. The verb derives from the noun on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Phrases

  • advocate general
  • angel's advocate
  • devil's advocate
  • God's advocate
  • judge advocate
  • special education advocate

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.