As a noun, it means a person who publicly supports or speaks in favor of a cause, person, or idea. As a verb, it means to actively support or argue for something.
From Latin *advocatus* “one called to aid, legal assistant,” from *advocare* “to call to one’s aid,” from *ad-* “to” and *vocare* “to call.” It first referred to legal helpers before broadening to general support.
An advocate is literally someone ‘called to your side’ to speak for you. That’s why advocates can be so powerful—they lend you an extra voice when yours alone isn’t being heard.
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