The devil’s advocate


What's the meaning of the phrase 'The devil's advocate'?

Figuratively, one who takes a contrary position for the sake of testing an argument, or just to be perverse.

What's the origin of the phrase 'The devil's advocate'?

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. In medieval Europe, Devil’s advocate wasn’t seen so negatively; it was, like ‘chamberlain’ or ‘cordwainer’, a job title.

There are various mentions in Vatican records dating from the early 1500s of an informal role called ‘Diaboli Advocatus’. In 1587, the administration of Pope Sixtus V (disappointingly, there hasn’t yet been a Sixtus the Sixth) established the formal post of Promoter of the Faith, known colloquially as the ‘Advocatus Diaboli’, which surely must have been the same role as ‘Diaboli Advocatus’. The job description wasn’t especially onerous, until someone was nominated for either beatification and canonization, at which point the ‘Devil’s Advocate’ was expected to draw up a list of arguments against the nominee becoming blessed or canonised.

The first time that the current form of the expression was used in print appears to be in the 1760 humorous text Impostors Detected:

By rising up and playing the true part of the Devil’s advocate.

See also: Between the Devil and the deep blue sea.

Trend of the devil ‘s advocate in printed material over time

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
The devil’s advocate

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