play devil's advocate

idiom

Meaning

To argue the opposite

Origin

first recorded 16th c. disputed origin

From the Catholic Church's advocatus diaboli, the official appointed to argue against a candidate's canonisation as a saint (office formalised in 1587).

Examples

SIMPLE

I will play devil's advocate to help you think of new ideas.

CONTEXTUAL

Even though he agreed with the plan, he played devil's advocate to make sure they considered every possible risk.

COMPLEX

The professor often plays devil's advocate during seminars, challenging his students' assumptions to encourage deeper critical thinking and more robust arguments.

Last updated June 7, 2026