Devil’s advocate
Etymology
A translation of the Latin “advocatus diaboli,” a real office in the Catholic Church’s canonization process. This official was charged with arguing against a candidate’s sainthood, probing every claim of virtue and miracle, opposite the “God’s advocate” who made the case for.
noun phrase · /DEV-ulz AD-vuh-kit/
Someone who argues a position they may not hold in order to test its opposite and expose weak reasoning.
What it names
The useful role of deliberate opposition — and the tic of those who invoke it to be contrarian without stakes.
Example
Let me play devil’s advocate: suppose the plan we all like actually makes things worse — what then?
Related idea
A devil’s advocate argues against a view to stress-test it; to steelman is to build the strongest version of an opponent’s real argument, whereas playing devil’s advocate may defend a position no one sincerely holds.