Having someone’s back refers to a lot of things. You may have friends who have your back in certain situations and not in some situations. Some may have your back in certain ways but not in some.
There are several names that describe a person who is there for you. Some words are for those who support you in certain ways while some are just generally for people who are there for you in any or every way.
The most common words for such a person are ‘Friend’ and ‘Buddy’.
15 Words to Call Someone Who Has Your Back?
Below are 15 words you can use in addressing or referring to someone who has your back.
- Supporter
- Buddy
- Advocate
- Confidant (or Confidante)
- Friend
- Partner
- Lookout
- Comrade
- Intercessor
- Fan
- Compadre
- Ally
- Mentor
- Chaperon
- Paladin
Supporter
A ‘Supporter’ is simply a person who supports you. Having a person’s back includes providing support for him/her where it is necessary or useful. Therefore, if you have someone who provides adequate support when you need it, you can call him/her your supporter.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Supporter’ as ‘a person who gives support to someone else or something’. This definition is broken down into more central definitions.
A ‘Supporter’ is a person who promotes, advocates, or champions a cause or movement (it may also have to do with the welfare of a person).
A ‘Supporter’ is a person who provides moral support (including motivation, encouragement, and advice) or physical support (including assistance with money, strength, presence, promotion, etc.). It may also refer to a person who attended a meeting, procession, or ceremony.
A ‘Supporter’ is also a fan of a sport, team, celebrity, or public figure.
Examples:
- When I needed to pay my fees, he was my only supporter.
- He has been my supporter and my motivation to continue.
Buddy
A ‘Buddy’ is someone you’ve become friends with or someone you’re intimately close to. The word can be used to refer to someone you work closely with. It is also often used for someone who is there for you and playing the role of a friend.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, your buddy is your friend or companion. It also refers to your close partner in a particular activity, situation, or place of work. The word may also be used informally for referring to acquaintances or strangers like ‘mate’.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘buddy’ as a person who provides friendly help to someone with an illness or in a difficult situation.
A person who has your back in a particular situation or who has always had your back in every situation can be referred to as your ‘Buddy’ or ‘Bud’.
Examples:
- He has been my trusted buddy from day one.
- He was my buddy when I had a knee injury.
Advocate
An ‘Advocate’ is often used to refer to a lawyer who argues the case of another person in court. However, the word, ‘Advocate’, refers to any person who assists you with his or her voice whether in court or outside the court.
An advocate is someone who argues on your behalf. This is the person who defends you when you are present or absent. He or she gives excuses on your behalf for the accusations leveled against you. He or she may also speak up for you when you are unable to get your voice to the public.
The Oxford Dictionary defines an advocate as a person who speaks in support of something or someone. It is also defined as someone who assists a person in making their voice heard.
If you have a friend who defends you, argues for you, or speaks on your behalf, he/she is supporting you and can be referred to as your advocate.
Examples:
- He is my advocate. Without him, I wouldn’t be here.
- He advocated for me when they tried to silence me.
Confidant (or Confidante)
Your confidant is a person whom you confide in or share your secrets with. Confidante refers to a woman whom you confide in and tell your secrets.
While ‘Confidant’ mostly refers to a man, it can be used to refer to both genders. If you will be mentioning your Confidant without stating who it is, ‘Confidante’ can reveal the gender but you can always use ‘Confidant’.
Your Confidant is that person you feel confident around and tell your thoughts to. They may not be secrets but you feel free to let them know how you feel.
The name is also used for someone whom you freely tell your secrets to without fear of having them exposed. He/she has your back by keeping your secrets between the two of you.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Confidant’ as a friend. A second definition is ‘a person in whom one can confide or share one’s secrets.’
You can use this word to refer to someone who figured out or knows your secrets but won’t expose you. It can also be someone who witnessed your wrongdoing but won’t rat you out.
Examples:
- He is my only confidant and he has never failed me.
- You’ve had my back forever. Thank you for being my Confidant.
Friend
A ‘Friend’ is someone you trust enough to be there for you when you need him/her. There are several things contained in ‘Friendship’ and one of them is having your friend’s back.
If there is a person who is there for you when you need him/her, then you should be able to call him/her a good friend.
Being friendly is being supportive or kind to a person. Therefore, being a friend has to do with being there for whomever you call your friend in moments when you are needed or whenever you can.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a friend as an associate who supports someone or something or a person who backs or supports you. It also refers to a person aside from your relatives and lover whom you feel affection for or happy around.
Examples:
- He has been my friend since I joined this team.
- He was my only friend during the war.
Partner
‘Partner’ can be used to refer to a person with whom you associate in a particular activity. A partner can be your friend. He/she can also be your companion. It can refer to your spouse or a lover or fiance that you live with.
While ‘Partner’ doesn’t necessarily describe a person who supports you or has your back, a partner is expected to support you and have your back. The person you tell your secrets to without fear of getting exposed can also be called your partner.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Partner’ as someone ‘who is associated with another in an activity or Common interest’. This refers to the person with whom you do certain things or share certain desires.
A second definition says ‘a spouse or other person with whom one shares a domestic, romantic or sexual bond.’ You can call a person your partner if he/she supports you in your endeavors.
Examples:
- Thank you, Partner. I have had no other person to support me.
- He has been my Partner since everyone hung me out to dry.
Lookout
‘Lookout’ refers to a person who watches for imminent danger to prevent it. A ‘Lookout’ man may be working for a group or for a person. He/she watches and observes for signs that either favor or hurt whomever he/she is working for or helping out.
A lookout is like a spy. He/she may not be defending you in public or arguing on your behalf. He/she may not make himself or herself known as your supporter. However, what a lookout does is to come to you to warn you ahead of plans against you or give you hints on how to earn favor.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a ‘Lookout’ is a person ‘who is on the watch for approaching enemy or danger’. You can call your friend your lookout if he/she consistently and selflessly feeds you with good information that turns out well for you.
Examples:
- He has been my lookout since I started this business.
- He is my lookout. He has my back always.
Comrade
Your Comrade is your friend, associate, or companion. You can always call a good friend a comrade and, just as you’d expect from a friend, you can expect a comrade to support you when he/she can.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘Comrade’ as ‘a friend or trusted companion with whom you have been involved in dangerous activities or difficult situations.’ The word is often used by retired soldiers when referring to their colleagues.
The Oxford Dictionary also defines ‘Comrade’ as ‘a colleague or fellow member of an organization.’ A second definition calls a comrade a friend or companion.
Examples:
- Thanks, man. You’ve been a comrade.
- He’s your only comrade since you joined us here.
Intercessor
An Intercessor can be a mediator or someone who advocates for you. The word is often used to mean simple interpretation but an Intercessor does more than just communicating your views to whom you need to speak. An Intercessor speaks for you in the right manner and pleads for you.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word, ‘Intercessor’, refers to a person who intercedes, mediates, reconciles enemies, or pleads for another person.
You can use this word to refer to your advocate who is not paid to speak for you. An example of an Intercessor is a Pastor who prays for a member of the church. The Pastor is asking for favors for another person without having any special gain from it.
Examples:
- He has been your intercessor since you got here. Don’t let him down.
- He is my intercessor. I have almost been lynched.
Fan
The word, ‘Fan’, refers to a supporter of a person, club, celebrity, or public figure. A fan is a person who admires someone or something and may publicly profess support for it.
If you have been a fan of a football player or a celebrity, you already know how much support you can offer to that public figure.
Some fans are prepared to argue to death for whomever they support. This is because they admire the person in question so much and believe him/her to be nearly perfect or unbeatable in that craft.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a ‘Fan’ as a person ‘who has grown fond of something or someone. A supporting definition for the word is ‘an admirer of a performer or an aficionado of a sport’.
Examples:
- He is my biggest fan and I appreciate him for it.
- I am a big fan of you. I follow you everywhere.
Compadre
‘Compadre’ is another name you can give to your friend or companion. You can always expect whomever you call your compadre to have your back in whatever way he/she can.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Compadre’ as a ‘friend or companion’. Your friend is expected to provide necessary support when he or she can. Your friend is someone you feel affection for who isn’t your spouse or lover. From such a person, you can expect kindness and support.
Examples:
- Compadre! I’ve got your back on this.
- He’s my compadre. I have nothing to worry about.
Ally
An ‘Ally’ is simply a helper. The word is often used by kingdoms or states that support one another in tough situations. An ally is someone you can always call for help and that will always help you when he/she has the capacity to.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Ally’ as ‘anything or anyone associated with another as a helper’. You can call someone your ally if he/she always supports you in tough situations.
However, the definition of ally also suggests that you are in a position to do the same for that ‘ally’ when he/she needs your help and when you have the capacity to give the needed assistance.
Examples:
- We are allies. I don’t plan to let him down.
- He’s been there for me. We are allies n
Mentor
A ‘Mentor’ is an older or better person whom you submit to for guidance in hopes of becoming like him/her. A mentor is considered wise and trustworthy by the mentee and expected to guide him/her in doing the right things to achieve his/her goal.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Mentor’ as a ‘wise and trusted counselor or teacher’. It refers to someone who teaches or guides you. The mentor supports you in becoming like him/her. The mentor helps you do things in the right way and prevents you from making wrong decisions.
Examples:
- He’s my mentor. I wouldn’t be here without him.
- I am his mentor and I should be there for him.
Chaperon
‘Chaperon’ refers to an adult who accompanies younger unmarried men or women to supervise and prevent them from illegal or illicit behavior.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Chaperon’ as ‘an adult who supervises one of more unmarried men and women in social occasions with the intent of preventing some types of social or sensual interactions or illegal behaviors’.
If you have someone who’s preventing you from making certain mistakes or indulging in wrong things, you can call him/her your chaperone.
Examples:
- He’s my chaperone when I’m in the hood.
- I can’t go without him. He’s my chaperone.
Paladin
‘Paladin’ refers to a person who advocates for a movement or a noble cause. You can use this word in referring to someone who actively supports you and your welfare.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘Paladin’ is defined as ‘a defender or advocate of a noble cause’. If you have someone who is trying to get justice or help on your behalf, you can call him/her your paladin.
Examples:
- You’ve been the paladin for my case.
- He’s my paladin. I have to thank him.
There are several words for a person who has your back. You can call him/her your supporter or fan. If you are referring to an older person, ‘Mentor’ works well.
If you are referring to someone who speaks on your behalf, ‘Advocate’ and ‘Paladin’ are good names to use.
