special interest

noun

1. special-interest group ( def 1 ).
2. a political or economic stake in something:

   Japan had a special interest in the South China Sea.

Other Words From

• special-interest adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of special interest¹

An Americanism dating back to 1785–90

Example Sentences

In a letter to the carriers Monday, the three lawmakers took special interest in Comcast, citing public reporting that it would start charging the heaviest Internet users in the Northeast more.

From Washington Post

The political insiders have been smothering Virginians’ best interests with their special interests.

From Washington Post

He developed a special interest and expertise in domestic terrorism.

From ProPublica

Ginny Merrifield, executive director of the group, told me that it formed as a result of concerns that the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated how politics and special interests, namely teachers’ unions, take precedence over the needs of children.

From Voice of San Diego

She told KUSI she thought Campbell was controlled by special interests.

From Voice of San Diego

At the same time, campaigns are spending less while the special-interest groups are spending more.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes politicians oppose reform for nefarious reasons—to protect a special interest or a major donor, for example.

From The Daily Beast

Who has the courage to do the right thing—money from special interest groups be damned?

From The Daily Beast

Its members would not be beholden to any special interest groups, at all, for their selection.

From The Daily Beast

The Republican and Democratic parties, he says, have become simply “conduits of special interest money.”

From The Daily Beast

He has a special interest or property in them, and a lien thereon for advances in money that he may make to the owners.

From Project Gutenberg

The thirty-six subjects not reproduced are for the most part small or apparently not of special interest.

From Project Gutenberg

The mental diseases that are of special interest in this respect are the so-called idiopathic insanities.

From Project Gutenberg

This arose out of an application which has a special interest in the history of printing.

From Project Gutenberg

He had carried people, men and women, from one prison to another before this, and took no special interest in this job.

From Project Gutenberg