Advocates is a plural noun or verb form meaning people who publicly support or defend a cause, policy, or individual. As a noun, it refers to those who advocate; as a verb, it’s the third-person singular present tense. It implies active, public endorsement and ongoing support within a debate or movement.
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"The group advocates for stronger environmental protections."
"Local physicians advocate for patient safety reforms."
"She advocates on behalf of marginalized communities."
"The organization advocates—consistently—for affordable housing policies."
Advocates derives from Latin advocatus, meaning ‘one called to help or defend’, from ad- ‘toward’ + vocare ‘to call’. The Latin term referred to someone summoned to court to speak in defense. In medieval and early modern Europe, advocatus narrowed to legal guardians or defenders, later broadening to public supporters and champions of a cause. English adoption solidified in the 17th–18th centuries, aligning with “advocate” as a public supporter or lawyer. The plural noun advocates emerged to denote multiple supporters; the verb form—advocates (present tense)—reflects a subject performing advocacy. Over time, the word retained its core sense of active promotion, but usage broadened to non-legal public policy contexts, non-governmental organizations, and civic activism. In contemporary usage, “advocates” frequently appears in policy discourse, human rights, and environmental debates, signaling organized or vocal support rather than passive endorsement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "advocates" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "advocates"
-ats sounds
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Pronounce as /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪts/ in most varieties. Primary stress on the first syllable: ADV. The middle is a schwa /ə/, and the final is a cluster /keɪts/ with a long /eɪ/ in ‘kates’ and a crisp /ts/ at the end. In careful speech, you’ll hear three beats: ADV-ə-kates. Audio reference: you can hear a natural pronunciation on Forvo or YouGlish under “advocates.” mouth position: start with an open front lax vowel in the first syllable, drop to a relaxed mid vowel in the second, then glide into /keɪ/ for the third. IPA: US /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪts/; UK /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪts/; AU /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪts/.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying ad-vo-cates with wrong rhythm; ensure primary stress on the first syllable: ADV-ə-киts. (2) Slurring the /d/ into /v/ or turning /d/ into a tap; keep the /d/ clear: /æd/. (3) Mispronouncing /keɪts/ as /kats/ or /keɜːts/; keep the long /eɪ/ diphthong and final /ts/. Correction: exaggerate the /æ/ in the first syllable lightly, maintain clear schwa in the second, and end with /keɪts/.
US/UK/AU all share /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪts/ with three syllables, but vowel quality shifts slightly: US typically has a sharper /æ/ and a more pronounced /ə/; UK may have a slightly rounded /ə/ and waver between /æ/ and /ə/; AU often features a flatter /æ/ and a more centralized schwa. Rhoticity doesn’t affect this word much since it ends in a consonant cluster. Overall, the main differences lie in vowel quality and rhythm, not phoneme inventory.
Because of the three-syllable rhythm with a non-stressed middle syllable and a final voiceless cluster /ts/. The /æ/ in the first syllable can vary cross-accent, and the /ə/ schwa in the second syllable is weak, so the transition to /keɪts/ requires a smooth glide into a long diphthong before the final affricate. Mastery hinges on clear first syllable onset, accurate schwa timing, and crisp final /ts/.
The word’s final syllable involves a mild transition from the schwa to a long /eɪ/ before the /ts/, so your jaw needs to drop slightly into /ə/ after the /d/ and then widen into /keɪ/. The onset /æd/ should feel brisk and energetic to keep the phrase rhythm aligned with adjacent words in sentences like 'The group advocates for...'. This combination—sharp first syllable, schwa, long diphthong, and final affricate—defines its signature pronounceability.
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