filibuster

[fil-uh-buhs-ter]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR filibuster ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

U.S. Politics.

the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority.
an exceptionally long speech, as one lasting for a day or days, or a series of such speeches to accomplish this purpose.
a member of a legislature who makes such a speech.

an irregular military adventurer, especially one who engages in an unauthorized military expedition into a foreign country to foment or support a revolution.

verb (used without object)

U.S. Politics. to impede legislation by irregular or obstructive tactics, especially by making long speeches.

to act as an irregular military adventurer, especially for revolutionary purposes.

verb (used with object)

U.S. Politics. to impede (legislation) by irregular or obstructive tactics, especially by making long speeches.

Nearby words

Origin of filibuster

1580–90; < Spanish filibustero < Middle French flibustier, variant of fribustier; see freebooter

Related formsfil·i·bus·ter·er, nounfil·i·bus·ter·ism, nounfil·i·bus·ter·ous, adjectivean·ti·fil·i·bus·ter, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for filibuster

When the former engaged in his drone filibuster, Cruz showed up in support; ditto for Paul when Cruz held an Obamacare filibuster.
Rand Paul Beats Ted Cruz, Saves NSA From ‘Reform’|Tim Mak, Olivia Nuzzi|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Democrats did not by themselves have the votes to defeat a Southern filibuster in the Senate.
Lyndon Johnson’s Last Miracle: The Civil Rights Act Turns 50|Nicolaus Mills|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paul has altered the national conversation once before, with his filibuster on drones.
Rand Paul’s Comments on GOP Voter-ID Laws Mark a Turning Point|James Poulos|May 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Senate Democrats failed in their effort to end a filibuster on a bill that would raise minimum wage to $10.10 on Wednesday.
Groundhog Day With Minimum Wage On Capitol Hill|Ben Jacobs|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Two big matters in particular: the filibuster, and presidential nominations.
Here’s What Happens When the GOP Takes Over the Senate|Michael Tomasky|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The poor man no longer left the house, for fear of saluting a filibuster.
An Eagle Flight|Jos Rizal
And are there still gobemouches in England who believe in the Filibuster?
Tony Butler|Charles James Lever
He had always kept out of such musses, and he knew it was violating Federal law to be a filibuster.
The Mermaid of Druid Lake and Other Stories|Charles Weathers Bump
He wants his picture painted by the celebrated young American painter and filibuster now sojourning in his down-trodden country.
Cabbages and Kings|O. Henry
Even the word "filibuster," transformed to a verb, is degraded to the base uses of politics.
By-Ways of War|James Jeffrey Roche

British Dictionary definitions for filibuster

filibuster

noun

the process or an instance of obstructing legislation by means of long speeches and other delaying tactics

Also called: filibusterer a legislator who engages in such obstruction

a buccaneer, freebooter, or irregular military adventurer, esp a revolutionary in a foreign country

verb

to obstruct (legislation) with delaying tactics

(intr) to engage in unlawful and private military action

Derived Formsfilibusterer, nounfilibusterism, noun

Word Origin for filibuster

C16: from Spanish filibustero, from French flibustier probably from Dutch vrijbuiter pirate, literally: one plundering freely; see freebooter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for filibuster

filibuster

1580s, flibutor "pirate," probably ultimately from Dutch vrijbuiter "freebooter," a word which used of pirates in the West Indies in Spanish (filibustero) and French (flibustier) forms, either or both of which gave the word to American English (see freebooter).

Used 1850s and '60s of lawless adventurers from the U.S. who tried to overthrow Central American governments. The legislative sense is not in Bartlett (1859) and seems not to have been in use in U.S. legislative writing before 1865. Probably the extension in sense is because obstructionist legislators "pirated" debate or overthrew the usual order of authority. Not technically restricted to U.S. Senate, but that's where the strategy works best.

filibuster

1853 in both the freebooting and the legislative senses, from filibuster (n.). Related: Filibustered; filibustering.

Culture definitions for filibuster

filibuster

[(fil-uh-bus-tuhr)]

A strategy employed in the United States Senate, whereby a minority can delay a vote on proposed legislation by making long speeches or introducing irrelevant issues. A successful filibuster can force withdrawal of a bill. Filibusters can be ended only by cloture.

filibuster

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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filibuster

noun

verb

Word Origin for filibuster

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