# proponent

**Pronunciation:** /prəˈpoʊnənt/ · pruh-POH-nuhnt

**CEFR level:** B2

**Part of speech:** noun

## Meaning

A person who actively supports or argues in favor of a cause, policy, or belief.

## Examples

- She is a leading proponent of universal healthcare.
- The senator was a vocal proponent of the new tax law.
- As a proponent of free speech, he defended the right to express unpopular opinions.

## Synonyms

- supporter — General term for someone who backs an idea or person.
- advocate — Someone who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.
- champion — Someone who fights for or defends a cause with great vigor.
- exponent — A person who is a strong advocate for something, often in a public or intellectual sphere.

## Antonyms

- opponent — Someone who is in opposition to a cause, policy, or belief.
- critic — Someone who expresses disapproval of or is skilled in analyzing and judging.

## Common patterns

- proponent of — Indicates what cause, policy, or belief the person supports. — He is a major proponent of environmental protection.

## Collocations

- strong proponent — She is a strong proponent of educational reform.
- leading proponent — He is the leading proponent of the new technology.
- vocal proponent — The group's vocal proponent addressed the crowd.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/proponents

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