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

Meta lobbyists believe a US and EU partnership is the way to gain the upper hand against China—the question is if the Trump Administration would be willing. —Zoya Hasan, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

What lobbyists didn’t expect, however, is the level of sheer ingratiation needed. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025

But science lobbyists are increasingly worried by whispers that Trump will propose cutting NSF’s spending by up to 66% in his 2026 budget request to Congress, expected to be released in mid-April. —Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 7 Feb. 2025

Two sources familiar with the mayor’s plans said Bovo is expected to leave his post to become a lobbyist for the Washington office of The Southern Group. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lobbyist

• hobbyist