lobbyism

lob·by  (lb)

n. pl. lob·bies

1. A hall, foyer, or waiting room at or near the entrance to a building, such as a hotel or theater.

2. A public room next to the assembly chamber of a legislative body.

3. A group of persons engaged in trying to influence legislators or other public officials in favor of a specific cause: the banking lobby; the labor lobby.

v. lob·bied, lob·by·ing, lob·bies

v.intr.

To try to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause: lobbying for stronger environmental safeguards; lobbied against the proliferation of nuclear arms.

v.tr.

1. To try to influence public officials on behalf of or against (proposed legislation, for example): lobbied the bill through Congress; lobbied the bill to a negative vote.

2. To try to influence (an official) to take a desired action.

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[Medieval Latin lobia, monastic cloister, of Germanic origin.]

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lobby·er, lobby·ist n.

lobby·ism n.

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lobbyism

the practice of influencing legislators to favor special interests. — lobbyist, n.

See also: Politics

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

lobbyism - the practice of lobbying; the activities of a lobbyist practice, pattern - a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"