lobby
LOH-bee
/ˈlɑː.bi/
To attempt to influence decisions made by officials or legislators on behalf of a specific group.
Directly targets decision-makers through legal policy presentations, discussion, and strategic persuasion.
The story behind the word. Traced to Medieval Latin 'lobia' (hallway). Citizens in 17th-century England and 19th-century Washington would wait in the hotel or legislature lobbies to catch politicians entering or exiting.
Word relationships
- sway: Sway means generally influencing opinion, whereas lobby specifically targets legislators in government halls.
- ignore: Ignore means giving no attention or effort to influencing public officials.
Commonly confused with
- bribe: Lobbying uses legal persuasion and policy arguments; bribery involves illegal payment for official favors.
Word family
- lobbyist (noun): A person hired to influence legislators on policy.
- lobbying (noun): The activity of seeking to influence politicians.
Collocations
- lobby lawmakers
- lobby group
- lobbyist
- lobby against
Idioms & expressions
- corridor power
Example sentences
- "Renewable energy executives traveled to the capital to lobby lawmakers for clean energy tax credits." Legislative process
- "Patient advocacy organizations continue to lobby parliament for increased rare-disease research funding." Healthcare reform
Memory hook
LOBBY: Waiting in the entrance LOBBY to speak to politicians as they walk past. Persuading lawmakers in hallway corridors.
When not to use
Do not use when describing general public protests or outdoor rallies aimed at the general public.
Fun facts
- Legend says President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term because he drank brandy in the lobby of Washington's Willard Hotel, where supplicants gathered.
Also appears in
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