Etymology : Middle English advocat, from Middle French, from Latin advocatus, from past participle of advocare to summon, from ad- + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice; more at VOICE
Pronunciation : ad-v&-k&t, -"kAt
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. be in favor of, support; stand for, intercede for. defense counsel; attorney; supporter, follower, proponent, champion. advocate\ad"vo*cate\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. advocated ; p. pr. & vb. n. advocating .] [see:
advocate, n., advoke, avow.] 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. sanderson (1624). this is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been advocated. eminent orators were engaged to advocate his cause.advocate \ad"vo*cate\ , n. [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.].
2. one who pleads the cause of another. specifically: one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a counselor.note: 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.
3. one who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument; a pleader; as, an advocate of free trade, an advocate of truth.
4. christ, considered as an intercessor. we have an advocate with the father. i. 1.
5. One who pleads the cause of another.
6. Specifically: One who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a counselor.
7. One who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument; a pleader; as, an advocate of free trade, an advocate of truth.
8. Christ, considered as an intercessor.
9. To plead in favor of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
10. To act as advocate. a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea a lawyer who pleads cases in court.
11. 1. If you advocate a particular action or plan, you recommend it publicly. Mr Williams is a conservative who advocates fewer government controls on business. the tax policy advocated by the Opposition. = recommend.
12. An advocate of a particular action or plan is someone who recommends it publicly. He was a strong advocate of free market policies and a multi-party system. = proponent.
13. An advocate is a lawyer who speaks in favour of someone or defends them in a court of law. = lawyer.
14. An advocate for a particular group is a person who works for the interests of that group. advocates for the homeless see also:
devil's advocate. to publicly say that something should be done.