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.
Believe it or not, there are a few theories about why cats sometimes take a special interest in wrapping paper or other paper materials like newspapers and magazines. Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024 Now, governments have metaphorical swamps, inhabited by special interests and grifters that feed on the status quo at expense of the future. Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024 By 2015, historically left-leaning anti-vaxxers were using social media to grow their movement across political and special interest lines. Keren Landman, Vox, 10 Dec. 2024 Well meaning, whack-a-mole solutions touted by ideological special interests (or highway products engineers and bureaucrats) need a hard data approach that few advocates have welcomed or supported. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 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 2 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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