First Known Use: 1760
Dictionary
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
1
: a Roman Catholic official whose duty is to examine critically the evidence on which a demand for beatification or canonization rests
2
: a person who champions the less accepted cause for the sake of argument
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Origin of DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
translation of New Latin advocatus diaboli
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