lobbyist
Americannoun
-
lobbyists
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of lobbyist
Explanation
A lobbyist is someone hired by a business or a cause to persuade legislators to support that business or cause. Lobbyists get paid to win favor from politicians. For example, oil companies send lobbyists to Washington to try to make life easier for oil companies. Sometimes they do it by making a great case for their cause, but often it involves fancy dinners and golf outings. If that sounds kind of shady, it is. But remember that women's rights groups and cancer research foundations have lobbyists, too — it's just one way to get your voice heard on the Hill.
Vocabulary lists containing lobbyist
100 Top "SAT" Words
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U.S. Government Lingo
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Vocabulary from President Trump's First Address to Congress
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A Washington industry lobbyist interviewed by AFP predicted a pragmatic approach from companies.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Elaine Crory, a women's sector lobbyist at the Women's Resource and Development Agency, said there's a lack of awareness about when and how the glasses are being used, leading to issues around consent.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
For a lobbyist in Brussels, the currency is access: a strong network, a deep knowledge of the EU's labyrinthine institutions and policymakers' trust.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Have a good lobbyist, will travel in Washington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
He hadn’t gotten where he was without certain lobbyist gifts.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Banks and payment lobbyists have launched into action.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Merchant lobbyists are talking with White House officials to pass the bill, while bank and payment lobbyists have met with administration officials.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Kao told the FBI that the lawmakers, lobbyists and Navatek brass understood these donations were bribes and that the payments were essential to the entire scheme.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
The bill turned out to be part of an elaborate FBI sting that resulted in 14 legislators, lobbyists and others being sent to prison.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
The pro-suffrage lobbyists used a more subtle approach.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
