proponent
/prəˈpəʊnənt
/noun
A person who advocates a theory, proposal, or course of action: a strong proponent of the free market and liberal trade policies...
- The most obvious lesson of course applies to proponents of biological control.
- Of course slavery and its proponents represent utter evil in the novel.
- These three lines of legal argument are generally linked by their proponents in human rights advocacy.
Synonyms
advocate, supporter, upholder, exponent, promoter, adherent, endorser, champion, defender, backer, subscriber, patron, espouser, friend, apostle, apologist, pleader, proposer, propounder, spokesperson, spokesman, spokeswoman;
enthusiast, propagandist
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin proponent- 'putting forth', from the verb proponere (see propound).