advocate
- To publicly recommend or support a particular cause, policy, or course of action.
- As a noun (/ˈædvəkɪt/): a person who publicly supports a cause or pleads on behalf of another.
In a sentence
- The nonprofit advocates tirelessly for improved access to clean drinking water.
- She became an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness after her own experience.
Usage note. Note the pronunciation shift: the verb is 'AD-voh-kayt' and the noun is 'AD-voh-kit'; using 'advocate for' is standard and widely accepted, though some traditionalists prefer simply 'advocate' without 'for'.
Where it comes from
English advocate · entered English 14th c.
From Latin 'advocatus' (one called to aid), past participle of 'advocare' (to summon, call to one's aid), combining 'ad-' (to) and 'vocare' (to call). It entered English in the 14th century first as a noun, with the verb use following later.