espouses

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'espouses' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to support and promote a particular idea, belief, or cause. Example: The company espouses a culture of innovation and encourages its employees to think outside the box.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The individual's character is more important than the strength of the idea which he or she espouses.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, he will argue that Labour espouses an ambition for whole groups of people, rather than individual aspiration over community.

The Guardian

He went on to explain that Charlie Hebdo sees itself as "political", meaning that in its satire it espouses a number of principles, which he listed: "Fighting against racism, fighting against all discriminations, discriminations against minorities, against women, against gay people, against weak people, socially weak people, poor people".

The Guardian

He espouses minimum wages across the EU, varied according to country and economic health.

The Guardian

Young and liberal Overall, the 2012 election demonstrates that the young voters of America not only hold a pro-Democratic party outlook, but one that espouses liberal positions on the important social issues of the day as well.

The Guardian - Opinion

And for those worried about privacy it is possible to search Google anonymously with StartPage.Peter Lancashire DusseldorfLiberal or confused?* SIR – You claim that the political party, the Alternative for Germany, espouses liberal economics ("There is an Alternative", September 20th).

The Economist

Mr Young complained that the Forest Service had begun to manage its lands according to the tenets of a movement called Deep Ecology, which espouses a set of beliefs drawn from various philosophies and eastern religions.

The Economist

Against that, Labour has good ideas for getting the long-term unemployed back to work, though it probably under-estimates their cost; and it espouses better notions than the Tories in competition policy (giving it a stricter pro-competition goal).

The Economist

The fund argues that omitting cases like the Irish one (which was associated with a decline in growth) and mistakenly counting instances like Japan's in 1999 (when growth did not decline) reduces the Harvard study's ability to pick up the growth-retarding effects of actual fiscal contractions.The fund espouses a different method of identifying cases of belt-tightening.

The Economist

As Sciascia observes, the principle of changing everything to change nothing, which Lampedusa's prince-hero espouses in "The Leopard", could have applied perfectly to Moro.

The Economist

Remember, it would be irresponsible not to do everything we can to save lives.I know Mr Bloomberg didn't mean that literally, but it's a strong statement that is at odds with the basic principle of liberalism (in the European, John Stuart Mill sense that The Economist espouses): the notion that people should be left alone unless there's an excellent reason for not leaving them alone.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "espouses" when you want to convey that someone publicly and explicitly supports a particular belief or cause. It adds a layer of formality and commitment beyond simply "supporting" something.

Common error

Avoid using "espouses" in very informal or casual settings. It's a relatively formal word, so using it in everyday conversation or informal writing can sound unnatural. Consider simpler alternatives like "supports" or "believes in" for less formal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "espouses" is as a transitive verb, indicating that a subject publicly adopts or supports a particular belief, cause, or way of life. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "espouses" is a transitive verb signifying public and formal endorsement of a belief or cause. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and commonly found in news, business, and formal writing. While alternatives like "supports" or "advocates" exist, "espouses" carries a stronger connotation of deliberate and public adoption. When writing, consider the formality of your context: "espouses" suits formal settings, while simpler terms may be better for casual communication. Avoid overusing "espouses" in informal conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

advocates

Similar in meaning, but slightly less formal and more directly implies active support or pleading for a cause.

champions

Suggests a more active and enthusiastic form of support, often implying leadership or prominence in promoting an idea.

supports

A more general term for backing or favoring something, lacking the nuance of publicly embracing or promoting an idea.

endorses

Implies formal approval or backing, often in an official capacity.

promotes

Focuses on actively encouraging or furthering the acceptance, use, or existence of something.

embraces

Suggests a more personal and enthusiastic acceptance of an idea or belief.

adheres to

Indicates a strict following or commitment to a principle or belief.

upholds

Suggests defending or maintaining a principle, standard, or law.

defends

Implies actively protecting or arguing in favor of a cause or belief against opposition.

maintains

Indicates consistently holding a particular belief or point of view.

FAQs

How to use "espouses" in a sentence?

Use "espouses" to indicate a formal and public support of a belief or cause. For example, "The politician espouses a policy of fiscal responsibility."

What can I say instead of "espouses"?

You can use alternatives like "advocates", "supports", or "endorses" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "espouses" or "supports"?

Both "espouses" and "supports" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Espouses" suggests a more formal and public endorsement, while "supports" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "espouses" and "embraces"?

"Espouses" implies a public and formal support, while "embraces" suggests a more personal and enthusiastic acceptance. One might espouse a political platform but embrace a new lifestyle.