lobby

American  

[lob-ee] / ˈlɒb i /

noun

lobbies plural

1. an entrance hall, corridor, or vestibule, as in a public building, often serving as an anteroom; foyer.

2. a large public room or hall adjacent to a legislative chamber.

3. a group of persons who work or conduct a campaign to influence members of a legislature to vote according to the group's special interest.

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verb (used without object)

lobbies, present (3rd person singular) lobbied, past participle, past lobbying present participle

1. to solicit or try to influence the votes of members of a legislative body.

verb (used with object)

lobbies, present (3rd person singular) lobbied, past participle, past lobbying present participle

1. to try to influence the actions of (public officials, especially legislators).

2. to urge or procure the passage of (a bill), by lobbying.

lobby British  

/ ˈlɒbɪ /

noun

1. a room or corridor used as an entrance hall, vestibule, etc

2. a hall in a legislative building used for meetings between the legislators and members of the public

3. Also called: division lobby.  one of two corridors in a legislative building in which members vote

4. a group of persons who attempt to influence legislators on behalf of a particular interest

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verb

1. to attempt to influence (legislators, etc) in the formulation of policy

2. (intr) to act in the manner of a lobbyist

3. (tr) to apply pressure or influence for the passage of (a bill, etc)

lobby Cultural  

1. A group whose members share certain goals and work to bring about the passage, modification, or defeat of laws that affect these goals. Lobbies (also called interest groups or pressure groups) can be long-standing (such as minority groups struggling to have their civil rights guaranteed) or ad hoc (such as a community threatened by proposed construction of a nuclear power plant). Lobbies may use grassroots methods, such as local rallies and campaigns, to build support for their cause and often employ professional lobbyists, who testify before congressional committees and approach policymakers in all government branches. Powerful lobbies, such as the AFL-CIO and the American Legion, with millions of members, have succeeded in establishing influence in Washington, D.C.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lobbyer
  noun
• unlobbied
  adjective
• unlobbying
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lobbies
  plural

Participles

• lobbying
  present
• lobbied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• lobby
  simple
• lobbies
  simple
• have lobbied
  perfect
• has lobbied
  perfect
• am lobbying
  progressive
• are lobbying
  progressive
• is lobbying
  progressive
• have been lobbying
  perfect progressive
• has been lobbying
  perfect progressive

Past

• lobbied
  simple
• had lobbied
  perfect
• was lobbying
  progressive
• were lobbying
  progressive
• had been lobbying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will lobby
  simple
• will have lobbied
  perfect
• will be lobbying
  progressive
• will have been lobbying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of lobby

1545–55; < Medieval Latin lobia, laubia covered way < Old High German *laubia (later lauba ) arbor, derivative of laub leaf

Explanation

A lobby is a large waiting room or reception area. If you're waiting for an appointment in a lobby, maybe you'll get lucky and find a good magazine or even a peppermint candy. You'll find a lot of people hanging around in a lobby — which is basically what it’s there for. A lobby is where you meet your friend at the hotel or catch the elevator for your interview. The idea of the "political lobby group" came from the large entrance halls of the legislature, where people hung around trying to influence the lawmakers. So the next time your class tries to lobby your teacher for extra credit, he can thank the halls of Congress.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lobby lobbies lobbied lobbying

However, Rubinson ruled that the defense team was able to acquire sufficient evidence around traffic safety, collision history and enforcement activity along PCH without having to lobby prosecutors for the data.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

A "nearly forgotten" historic streetlamp that once stood outside on 23rd Street has been reimagined as a chandelier in the lobby, Sofield said.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

What would it feel like if the court took seriously the idea that the American public can foment and lobby and birth constitutional meaning in their own home kitchens?

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026

The state’s powerful doctors’ lobby, the California Medical Assn., also opposes the measure, arguing it would ban clinics from keeping funding in reserves and hamper their ability to upgrade equipment or expand to new locations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

Clara reached the center of the lobby before a few of the sheydim at last noticed her.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

The pair exchanged words in the division lobbies afterwards, with a Labour source claiming that Badenoch told Phillipson: "You are spiteful, I'm never going to stop talking about how spiteful you are."

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

Bior, who began volunteering with the foundation after high school, lobbies sponsors for scholarship programs, and helps students with college admissions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026

Universities UK, which lobbies on behalf of more than 140 universities, has been approached for comment.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026

In the process, the LDP attracted all kinds of special interests, including farming and business lobbies, as well as religious groups, and multiple cases of corruption followed.

From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026

Her front room reminded me of fancy hotel lobbies from the movies, there was so much silk and lace.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Albanese's announcement comes after it emerged this week that US startup Anthropic has lobbied Australian officials to change copyright laws to assist the training of AI models.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

The only other time a red-card suspension was overruled during a World Cup was in 1962, when Brazilian attacker Garrincha was allowed to play in the final after Brazil’s prime minister lobbied on his behalf.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

But behind the scenes, Scientology representatives and allies have lobbied officials to close the street, according to interviews with current and former city officials and hundreds of pages of government records.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Watkinson successfully lobbied for a reference to God to be added to coins.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026

The putative best and brightest on Morgan Stanley’s bond trading floor lobbied to join him.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Netanyahu is expected to attend the funeral and meet with Trump, a win for the prime minister after weeks of lobbying for a White House sit-down.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The act was opposed by the Real Estate Board of New York, a lobbying group that represents the real-estate industry, including brokers.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

Hunter also called the lobbying a “sign of maturity” for the industry, which is a sentiment shared by other hemp and cannabis businesspeople interviewed by Salon.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

The lobbying contract dedicates a section to the minerals sector -- a global strategic priority for Trump's administration -- instructing the firm to "support efforts to identify opportunities for cooperation".

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

By January 1996, thanks in no small part to Fischer’s concerted lobbying, the magazine made a firm commitment to send me to Everest—probably, Wetzler indicated, as a member of Fischer’s expedition.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• campaign for
• persuade
• politick
• press
• promote
• push
• request
• solicit
• sway
• urge