# advocate

/ˈædvəˌkeɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/advocate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a supporter

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

someone who publicly supports a particular idea or way of doing things.

For teachers: a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

- She has been a strong advocate for women's rights throughout her career.
- As a leading advocate of renewable energy, the professor was invited to speak at the international climate summit.

### 3. legal representative

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a lawyer who speaks for someone in a court of law.

For teachers: a person who puts forward a case in a court of law; a legal representative or counsel.

- The defendant's advocate argued that there was not enough evidence for a conviction.
- The judge requested that the advocate provide further clarification regarding the precedent cited in the opening statement.

Teaching tip: In many English-speaking legal systems, 'lawyer' or 'attorney' is more common, but 'advocate' is the specific title in Scotland and South Africa.

## Examples

- She is a strong advocate for better public transport.
- As a lifelong advocate for environmental protection, he spent years lobbying the government to reduce carbon emissions.
- The defense advocate argued that the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.