interest group

American  

noun

1. a group of people drawn or acting together in support of a common interest or to voice a common concern.

   Political interest groups seek to influence legislation.

---

interest group Cultural  

1. An organized group that tries to influence the government to adopt certain policies or measures. Also called pressure group. (See lobby.)

---

Etymology

Origin of interest group

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interest group

Do those educators make mistakes, often as a result of interest group pressure?

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2025

The report, due to be presented in Parliament later on Tuesday, was put together by a cross-party interest group and is based on written testimony from 175 respondents collected over two and a half years.

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2024

Tamas noted, however, that the Working Families Party has been unusually durable, even if it is acting mostly as an interest group in the Democratic coalition.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2024

“It may mean saying no to an interest group that’s had our back in the past. It may mean reaching out to a colleague whose beliefs are different than our own.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2023

Comprised of members of an interest group or a profession whose welfare they purport to serve, the mass organizations provide channels for the transmission of policy and doctrine from the party to the general population.

From Area Handbook for Romania by Bernier, Donald W.

Related Words

• lobby
• political action committee
• pressure group