Definition of ADVOCACY (original) (raw)
: 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
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To Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, an advocacy group focused on civil rights including transgender rights, that looseness is intentional. —
Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR, 7 Feb. 2025 It was filed by the advocacy group Student Defense on behalf of the University of California Student Assn. —Collin Binkley and Bianca Vázquez Toness, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025 Cities and towns are expected to welcome the additional aid, but advocacy groups, including the Connecticut Education Association, the state’s largest teacher’s union, and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, noted that state funding hasn’t kept pace with inflation for years. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2025 The move was in response to a lawsuit filed by two unions and an advocacy group on Monday against the Treasury Department. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for advocacy 
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of advocacy was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near advocacy
Cite this Entry
“Advocacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advocacy. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 10 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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