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
Television viewers would not see this footage until 1975, when a late-night show hosted by Geraldo Rivera showed a grainy, bootlegged copy narrated by a couple of conspiracy proponents.
—
Time, 20 Sep. 2025
Hegseth's decision was quickly and sharply derided by members of the media and proponents of a free press, who noted that pre-approval of reportable material would limit the ability of reporters to provide vital news to the public about America's military.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
This shift has caused alarm among proponents of a two-state solution.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Most of the scholars Wiese discusses were rabbis, whether more traditional ones or proponents of radical reform, and this reflects the degree to which secular Jewish Studies, housed in nonsectarian universities, took longer to develop.
—Josh Lambert, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
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Time, 20 Sep. 2025
Hegseth's decision was quickly and sharply derided by members of the media and proponents of a free press, who noted that pre-approval of reportable material would limit the ability of reporters to provide vital news to the public about America's military.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
This shift has caused alarm among proponents of a two-state solution.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Most of the scholars Wiese discusses were rabbis, whether more traditional ones or proponents of radical reform, and this reflects the degree to which secular Jewish Studies, housed in nonsectarian universities, took longer to develop.
—Josh Lambert, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 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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