advocate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
    advocator; proponent; exponent.
  2. noun a lawyer who pleads cases in court
    counsel; counselor-at-law; counsellor; pleader; counselor.
  3. verb push for something
    urge; recommend.
    • The travel agent recommended strongly that we not travel on Thanksgiving Day
  4. verb speak, plead, or argue in favor of
    preach.
    • The doctor advocated a smoking ban in the entire house

WordNet

Ad"vo*cate noun
Etymology
OE. avocat, avocet, OF. avocat, fr. L. advocatus, one summoned or called to another; properly the p. p. of advocare to call to, call to one's aid; ad + vocare to call. See Advowee, Avowee, Vocal.
Definitions
  1. One who pleads the cause of another. Specifically: One who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a counselor. ✍ In the English and American Law, advocate is the same as "counsel," "counselor," or "barrister." In the civil and ecclesiastical courts, the term signifies the same as "counsel" at the common law.
  2. One who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument; a pleader; as, an advocate of free trade, an advocate of truth.
  3. Christ, considered as an intercessor.
    We have an Advocate with the Father. 1 John ii. 1.
Ad"vo*cate transitive verb
Etymology
See Advocate, n., Advoke, Avow.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Advocated present participle & verbal noun Advocating
Definitions
  1. To plead in favor of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
    To advocate the cause of thy client. Bp. Sanderson (1624).
    This is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been advocated. Burke.
    Eminent orators were engaged to advocate his cause. Mitford.
Ad"vo*cate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To act as advocate. Obs. Fuller.

Webster 1913