devil's advocate

noun

: a person who expresses an opinion that disagrees with others so that there will be an interesting discussion about some issue

Full Definition of DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

: a Roman Catholic official whose duty is to examine critically the evidence on which a demand for beatification or canonization rests

: a person who champions the less accepted cause for the sake of argument

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translation of New Latin advocatus diaboli

First Known Use: 1760

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