proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt 
ˈprō-ˌpō-
: one who argues in favor of something : advocate
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Proponent comes from the same Latin word as propose, so a proponent is someone who proposes something, or at least supports it by speaking and writing in favor of it. Thus, for example, proponents of casinos argue that they create jobs, whereas proponents of a casino ban—that is, casino opponents—argue that they're corrupting and they take money away from people who can't afford it. As a rule, just about anything important that gets proposed also gets opposed.
Examples of proponent in a Sentence
a vocal proponent of the use of electric-powered cars
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s much misinformation about who actually pays tariffs Trump is a proponent of tariffs, insisting that they are paid for by foreign countries.
—
Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, is also a staunch free speech proponent.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025
Adding millions of pollution-free trucks to the road over the next decades would also improve public health, proponents argue.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
But proponents of the proposal against Apple's DEI had argued recent legal changes could result in an increase in discrimination cases if Apple continued such policies.
—Susan Heavey and Aditya Soni, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proponent
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Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, is also a staunch free speech proponent.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025
Adding millions of pollution-free trucks to the road over the next decades would also improve public health, proponents argue.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
But proponents of the proposal against Apple's DEI had argued recent legal changes could result in an increase in discrimination cases if Apple continued such policies.
—Susan Heavey and Aditya Soni, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for proponent
Cite this Entry
“Proponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proponent. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt
ˈprō-ˌpō-nənt
: one who argues in favor of something
a proponent of recycling
Legal Definition
proponent
noun
pro·po·nent
prə-ˈpō-nənt
1
: one who argues in favor of something
2
: one who offers a will for probate
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