advocate

From Middle English advocat, advoket, from Old French advocat, from Latin advocātus (past participle of advocāre (“to call for”)), a calque of Ancient Greek παράκλητος (paráklētos) (whence English paraclete). Doublet of advoke, avocat, avouch, and avow.

• Noun:
  • enPR: ăd'və-kət, IPA^(key): /ˈæd.və.kət/

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• Verb:
  • enPR: ăd'və-kāt, IPA^(key): /ˈæd.və.keɪt/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

advocate (plural advocates)

1. Someone whose job is to speak for someone's case in a court of law; a counsel. [from 14th c.]
2. Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor. [from 14th c.]
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     I neuer did incense his Maiestie / Against the Duke of Clarence, but haue bin / An earnest aduocate to plead for him.

3. A person who speaks in support of something, or someone. [from 18th c.]
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter X, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 104:

     "I think," replied the young advocate, unwilling to give up a point in which his feelings were interested, "that even you would believe in Walter Maynard's success in life, if you knew him. What has brought the world to its present state, but individual talent?"

   • 2011 October 9, Alix Lee, The Guardian:

     He became a tireless advocate for the needs of adults with IMD throughout Britain and internationally.

4. A person who supports others to make their voices heard, or ideally for them to speak up for themselves.

   Since she started working with her advocate, she has become much more confident.

• advocacy
• advocation
• advocator
• avocate

advocate (third-person singular simple present advocates, present participle advocating, simple past and past participle advocated)

1. (transitive) To plead in favour of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
   • 7 March, 1624, Robert Sanderson, sermon at the Assizes, at Lincoln

     To advocate the cause of thy client.

   • 16 June, 1784, Edmund Burke, speech on reform of representation in the House of Commons

     This is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been advocated.

2. (transitive) To encourage support for something.

   I like trees, but I do not advocate living in them.

   • 1960 December, B. Perren, “The role of the Great Central—present and future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 765:

     Those who have advocated the closure of the G.C. have so far failed to say by which alternative route this North-to-West traffic could be carried.

   • 2019 May 12, Alex McLevy, “Westeros faces a disastrous final battle on the penultimate Game of Thrones (newbies)”, in The A.V. Club‎:

     Varys even leans on Jon to assume the Iron Throne, which means he very well knew he wasn’t going to be around much longer, if he’s openly advocating others commit treason as well.

   • 2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 50:

     Back in 1963, how could Beeching advocate closure of the electrified Liverpool-Southport commuter route, just because its books didn't balance? The busy North London line between Richmond and Broad Street was also for the axe, as was Leeds to Bradford and Ilkley.

3. (intransitive, with for) To engage in advocacy.

   We have been advocating for changes in immigration law.

   • 2020 June 3, Christian Wolmar, “Unworkable policies cripple our beleaguered railway”, in Rail, page 51:

     And why has no one in the [rail] industry advocated for a universal requirement for face covering (even if it's just a scarf or old tea towel), [...].

4. (Scots law) To appeal from an inferior court to the Court of Session.
5. (Scots law, in higher courts) To call a case before itself for decision.

• See also Thesaurus:advise

• advocacy

• “advocate, n.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.
• “advocate, v.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.

• avocated

advocāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of advocō

advocate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of advocar combined with te