advocacy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   public support for an idea, cause, policy, or course of action

   Her advocacy for safer streets led the council to redesign the junction.

2. 2
   noun

   support, advice, and representation that help someone express their needs or protect their rights

   A patient advocacy service helped him understand and challenge the decision.

3. 3
   noun

   the work of presenting cases and arguments in court

   She developed her advocacy skills while appearing in complex criminal trials.

From late Middle English advocacie, through Old French, from Medieval Latin advocatia, based on advocare ("summon; call to one's aid"), from ad- ("to") + vocare ("to call"). The legal sense is old; the broader sense of publicly supporting a cause extends the advocate's role beyond court.

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