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- DictionaryDev·il's ad·vo·cate/ˌdev(ə)lz ˈadvəkət/
noun
- 1. a person who expresses a contentious opinion in order to provoke debate or test the strength of the opposing arguments: "the interviewer will need to play devil's advocate, to put the other side's case forward"
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DEVIL'S ADVOCATE definition: 1. someone who pretends, in an argument or discussion, to be against an idea or plan that a lot of…. Learn more.
Mar 9, 2023 · The meaning of DEVIL'S ADVOCATE is a Roman Catholic official whose duty is to examine critically the evidence on which a demand for beatification or canonization rests. How to use devil's advocate in a sentence.
The term ‘Devil’s advocate’ was brought into English in the 18th century from the medieval Latin expression ‘advocatus diaboli’. To describe someone as a Devil’s advocate now is to suggest that they are mischievous and contradictory, being contrary for the sake of it.
During the canonization process employed by the Catholic Church, the 'Promoter of the Faith' (Latin: promotor fidei), popularly known as the Devil's advocate (advocatus diaboli), was a canon lawyer appointed by Church authorities to argue against the canonization of a candidate.
devil's advocate in British English. noun. 1. a person who advocates an opposing or unpopular view, often for the sake of argument. 2. Roman Catholic Church. the official appointed to put the case against the beatification or canonization of a candidate.
Jan 2, 2018 · Playing “devil’s advocate” is a phrase we’ve all heard or said before. It’s used by a person taking a contrarian stance, especially when they’re espousing an idea they don’t truly believe in order to have a vigorous debate.
Mar 16, 2022 · According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a devil’s advocate is a person who supports an opposing argument. They chose this for the sole purpose of making others think more deeply about a topic, even if they do not agree with the argument itself.
