advocate

Noun

1. Someone whose job is to speak for someone's case in a court of law; a counsel.
2. Anyone who argues the case of another; an intercessor.
3. A person who speaks in support of something, or someone; proponent
4. A person who supports others to make their voices heard, or ideally for them to speak up for themselves.

Verb

1. (transitive) To plead in favour of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
2. (transitive) To encourage support for something.
3. (intransitive) To engage in advocacy.
4. To appeal from an inferior court to the Court of Session.
5. To call a case before itself for decision.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæd.və.kət/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: advocat

Cognate with English: paraclete

In summary

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).

Synonyms

lawyer

attorney

barrister

proponent

counsel

defender

pleader

supporter

solicitor

recommend

exponent

champion

advocator

preach

spokesman

promote

upholder

adherent

defend

follower

apologist

support

representative

counselor-at-law

vindicator

urge

plead

spokeswoman

sponsor

advise

proxy

assertor

proctor

propose

substitute

believer

believe in

persuade

deem

maintain

interceder

partisan

counselor

counsellor

delegate

deputy

friend

disciple

espouse

consider