advocate
n.-
1 a supporter (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Academicsomeone who publicly supports a particular idea or way of doing things.
a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
ExampleShe has been a strong advocate for women's rights throughout her career.
ExampleAs a leading advocate of renewable energy, the professor was invited to speak at the international climate summit.
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2 legal representative (n.) C1 Advanced Formal Technical Lawa lawyer who speaks for someone in a court of law.
a person who puts forward a case in a court of law; a legal representative or counsel.
ExampleThe defendant's advocate argued that there was not enough evidence for a conviction.
ExampleThe judge requested that the advocate provide further clarification regarding the precedent cited in the opening statement.
Teacher's tipIn many English-speaking legal systems, 'lawyer' or 'attorney' is more common, but 'advocate' is the specific title in Scotland and South Africa.
From Middle English advocat, advoket, from Old French advocat, from Latin advocātus (“an advocate”), from the substantivization of the perfect passive participle of advocāre (“to call for”) (see -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from a calque of Ancient Greek παράκλητος (paráklētos) (whence English paraclete). Doublet of advoke, avocat, avouch, and avow. The verb derives from the noun on the basis of -ate (verb-forming suffix).