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
But even proponents of the efforts to tackle nutrition concerns don't agree on which foods to target.
—
Alan Greenblatt, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
In addition to not being a major proponent of black and white, Scheck isn't a fan of going all in with gray and white, either.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
But proponents of reform blamed him for the bill’s failure.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Project proponents previously promised voters 27 miles of light-rail track in exchange for a 23% tax hike, but the plan has been scaled back to fewer than 10 miles while costs have stayed the same.
—Austin American Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proponent
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Cite this Entry
“Proponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proponent. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Kids 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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