advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē 

: the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal : the act or process of advocating (see advocate entry 2) something

known for his advocacy of gay rights

Examples of advocacy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Save Our Schools Arizona, a public education advocacy group, has endorsed Bixler, Schmidt and Zimmerman. —Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

As scientists and advocacy groups including the NAACP have noted, people of color and low-income families are more likely to suffer from air polluted by fossil fuels and weather disasters exacerbated by higher temperatures. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

The political-action committee behind at least some of the billboards, Vote No on 3, recently received a last-minute, million-dollar donation from an advocacy group linked to Leonard Leo, the co-chairman of the Federalist Society. —The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024

But just because the platform doesn’t accept money for political ads doesn’t mean TikTok users don’t see them: TikTok accounts run by candidates, parties, and advocacy groups routinely post short videos on the platform that are running as ads on TV and other social platforms. —Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English advocacie "intercession," borrowed from Anglo-French advocassie "pleading," borrowed from Medieval Latin advocatia "patronage," from Latin advocātus advocate entry 1 + -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing advocacy

• advocacy journalism

Kids Definition

advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē 

: the act or process of advocating : support

Legal Definition

advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē 

1

: the profession or work of an advocate

2

: the action of advocating, pleading for, or supporting a cause or proposal

a consequence of his moving advocacy

—W. O. Douglas