advocacy

noun

ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē How to pronounce advocacy (audio)
: 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 The final version of the bill, which earned bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, appears to address the concerns of advocacy groups and individuals on both sides of the issue that testified before lawmakers since the start of the year. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Mar. 2024 The movement to bar U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel from the classrooms came after members of Latinos En Spokane, an advocacy group that supports the Latino community, said that immigrants seeing Border Patrol agents in their school could be traumatizing. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2024 The bill was backed not just by the Legislative Latino Caucus, but also a large coalition that included advocacy groups CASA and the Maryland Health Care for All coalition. Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 In that decade the Beehive State earned a reputation as a model red state for uniting religious, business, and immigrant advocacy groups, says Dr. Hofmann. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 According to an Instagram post celebrating South Tucson's resolution passing, the same advocacy groups plan to hold a similar rally outside Tucson City Hall and speak at an upcoming council meeting. Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 The report, co-authored by the Step Forward Foundation, an immigrant advocacy group providing free legal services, also found that 73% of California fast-food workers do not know how much additional pay they are entitled to if they are forced to work through a meal break or rest breaks. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Current grantees embodying that approach, said Bhargava, include community-organizing groups People’s Action and the Center for Popular Democracy and the worker advocacy nonprofit Jobs for Justice. Alex Daniels Of The Chronicle Of Philanthropy, Chronicle Of Philanthropy, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 At least 159 Tibetans have lit themselves on fire in Tibet and China since 2009, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a nonprofit advocacy group. Joe Hernandez, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'advocacy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

advocacy

noun
ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē How to pronounce advocacy (audio)
: the act or process of advocating : support

Legal Definition

advocacy

noun
ad·​vo·​ca·​cy ˈad-və-kə-sē How to pronounce advocacy (audio)
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 advocacyW. O. Douglas

More from Merriam-Webster on advocacy

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