Advocate
verb / noun /ˈædvəkɪt/ — To speak up in support of someone or something.
Definition
To publicly recommend or support a cause, policy, or person; someone who does this.
Beyond the definition
An advocate is someone who uses their voice for things beyond themselves. Advocating for yourself — making your needs and achievements visible — is a career skill. Advocating for others is a character one.
Origin & history
From Latin advocare — to call to one's aid (ad- 'to' + vocare 'to call'). Calling someone to your side to help.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She advocated for flexible working hours before it was common practice.
He's a strong advocate for mental health awareness in schools.
Don't wait for someone else to advocate for you — learn to do it for yourself.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Advocate” when the meaning fits your context: To publicly recommend or support a cause, policy, or person; someone who does this.
Synonyms
support, champion, promote, speak up for, back
Antonyms
oppose, discourage, undermine
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Supporting Growth in Speech
An orator on stage gestures to contrast a small seedling in one hand against a heavy iron chain on their shoulder.
The orator is acting as an advocate by using their platform to support the cause of growth. By highlighting the seedling, they are publicly recommending the importance of the natural life over industrial burden, using their speech to shift the audience's focus.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Advocate" mean?
Advocate is verb / noun meaning: To speak up in support of someone or something.. To publicly recommend or support a cause, policy, or person; someone who does this.
Where does the word "Advocate" come from?
From Latin advocare — to call to one's aid (ad- 'to' + vocare 'to call'). Calling someone to your side to help.