special interest

noun

: a person or group seeking to influence legislative or government policy to further often narrowly defined interests
especially : lobby

Examples of special interest in a Sentence

promised that as governor he would never be beholden to special interests
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Though still rare in America, the model reflects the striking idea that fundamental problems of politics—polarization, apathy, manipulation by special interests—can be transformed through radically direct democracy. Nick Romeo, The New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2024 Once created, jobs in government and special interest organizations tend not to disappear. Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 But subsequent measures backed by special interests weakened the Gann limit by creating exceptions for education and transportation spending as well as substituting a far more generous inflation factor. Jon Coupal, Orange County Register, 8 Dec. 2024 For the sake of small-d democratic fairness, states should end these taxpayer subsidies for union partisanship, before these special interests abuse the public’s trust for their preferred party’s political gain. Liesel Crocker, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for special interest 

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of special interest was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near special interest

Cite this Entry

“Special interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20interest. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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