Question 1

What does "play devil's advocate" mean?

Accepted Answer

To argue a position you may not personally believe in order to stimulate discussion.

Question 2

How do you use "play devil's advocate" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

Let me play devil's advocate — what if the plan actually makes things worse?

Question 3

Is "play devil's advocate" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"play devil's advocate" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Often used as a preface before raising a counterargument.