lobbyist

noun

lob·​by·​ist ˈlä-bē-ist 

plural lobbyists

: one who conducts activities aimed at influencing or swaying public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation : a person engaged in lobbying public officials

The new rule says that if you were a registered lobbyist in the past two years, you can't work for the administration on any issue you touched. After you leave government, you can't lobby the administration at all.

—Jacob Weisberg

Because so many lobbyists have past experience on Capitol Hill, they usually have personal ties both to members of congress and to their key staffers, who vet and prioritize the earmark requests.

—Ken Silverstein

Examples of lobbyist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Florida Supervisors of Election association is in support of the House bill but wants some changes, said lobbyist David Ramba, including requiring voters themselves to return petitions to elections offices instead of allowing the amendment sponsor to do so. —Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025

Mariano switched things up, elevating Rep. Jeff Roy of Franklin, whose relationship with a lobbyist was scrutinized by the Globe, and Rep. Carlos Gonzalez of Springfield into leadership positions. —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025

The case centered around a civil grand jury report that accused Becker and other members of the council of having an inappropriate relationship with the San Francisco 49ers that included closed door meetings with team lobbyists. —Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025

But policyholders who gathered at a public hearing Tuesday called on leaders of the committee to offer consumers more protection while lobbyists for the insurance sector opposed the measure. —Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lobbyist

• hobbyist