Meaning
To argue against an idea or decision — not because you actually disagree, but to test its strength by exposing weaknesses.
It’s a deliberately adopted role rather than a genuine position, often flagged explicitly (“just playing devil’s advocate”) so the other person doesn’t mistake the challenge for a real objection.
Origin
The phrase translates the Latin title “advocatus diaboli,” an official position formally established within the Catholic Church’s canonization process in 1588 by Pope Sixtus V, though similar adversarial roles had existed informally for centuries before that. The devil’s advocate’s actual job was to argue against a candidate’s sainthood — cross-examining witnesses, hunting for character flaws, and challenging whether claimed miracles could be explained naturally rather than supernaturally — while a counterpart, the “advocatus Dei” (God’s advocate), argued in favor. Pope John Paul II dramatically reduced the role’s influence in 1983, a change widely credited with speeding up canonizations considerably during his papacy, though the Church has continued to solicit critical outside testimony on notable cases since — most memorably inviting the atheist writer Christopher Hitchens to testify against Mother Teresa’s canonization in 2003.
Examples
I’ll play devil’s advocate here — what if the plan actually fails?
She’s not against the idea; she’s just being the devil’s advocate to stress-test it.
As devil’s advocate, let me ask: have we considered the cost?
A: “Everyone loves the new logo.” B: “Devil’s advocate — does it actually work in black and white?”
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Devil's advocate' mean?
To argue against an idea or decision — not because you actually disagree, but to test its strength by exposing weaknesses.
It’s a deliberately adopted role rather than a genuine position, often flagged explicitly (“just playing devil’s advocate”) so the other person doesn’t mistake the challenge for a real objection.