What does avower mean?
An avower is a person who avows — that is, who openly and deliberately declares, affirms, or takes responsibility for a belief, opinion, intention, or act. The word functions as the agent noun of the verb 'avow', much as 'denier' does for 'deny', though it points in the opposite direction: where a denier disclaims connection with something, an avower claims it publicly. The term belongs chiefly to formal and literary registers and is far less common than either 'avow' itself or the related noun 'avowal'. It typically appears in contexts emphasizing candour or conviction, as when describing an avower of unpopular principles, an avower of a faith, or an avower of responsibility for a deed. Because avowing implies openness rather than concealment, the word often carries a faint suggestion of courage or boldness, especially when what is being acknowledged might be controversial, costly, or socially risky to admit.
nounA person who avows something; one who openly declares, affirms, or acknowledges a belief, opinion, or allegiance.
- A person who openly declares or acknowledges a belief, opinion, cause, or allegiance.
"An avower of radical ideas in his youth, he spent his later years quietly defending them."
"She remained the most outspoken avower of the movement's original principles."
"As a lifelong avower of plain speaking, he never disguised his opinions behind polite evasions."
Standard plural, used when referring to multiple people who openly declare a belief or allegiance.
"The manifesto attracted a small but vocal group of avowers."
Every avower traces back to the Latin word for 'to call to one's side' — the same root that gives us 'advocate', literally someone called in to speak for you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of avower
'Avower' is formed from the verb 'avow' by addition of the agent suffix '-er', on the model of other English agent nouns. 'Avow' entered Middle English from Old French 'avouer', which derived from the Latin 'advocare', meaning 'to call to one's aid or side'. That Latin root, built on 'ad-' ('to') plus 'vocare' ('to call'), also produced 'advocate', 'invoke', 'provoke', and the adjective 'vociferous', all of which preserve the underlying idea of calling out or calling upon. The word has thus carried a sense of public declaration since its earliest use in English.
Related word forms
How avower is actually used
'Avower' is a formal, somewhat literary agent noun derived from the verb 'avow'. It is considerably rarer than its parent verb and the noun 'avowal', appearing mostly in written rather than spoken English. It carries no inherent connotation of approval — one can be an avower of unpopular or controversial views.
Easily confused with avower
An 'avower' is the person making the open declaration, while an 'avowal' is the declaration itself.