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
Jacob WeisbergBecause 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
Ken SilversteinExamples of lobbyist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That changed at 11:30 p.m. when the gallery began filling up with legislative staffers and lobbyists, which injected a charge of adrenaline into the members who had by then already struggled through back-to-back-to-back workdays that had stretched deep into the night.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
On the first day, lobbyists and others had the chance to golf with DeSantis.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
In addition to media operations, Chinese corporations, often boasting links to the CCP, will sometimes use American lobbyists in efforts to dislodge sanctions or otherwise unfavorable government rulings.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025
Of all the players swirling in the bribery scandal involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan, from precinct captains and political directors to legislators and lobbyists, one man held the ultimate catbird seat: Michael Francis McClain.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
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John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
On the first day, lobbyists and others had the chance to golf with DeSantis.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 29 July 2025
In addition to media operations, Chinese corporations, often boasting links to the CCP, will sometimes use American lobbyists in efforts to dislodge sanctions or otherwise unfavorable government rulings.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025
Of all the players swirling in the bribery scandal involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan, from precinct captains and political directors to legislators and lobbyists, one man held the ultimate catbird seat: Michael Francis McClain.
—Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for lobbyist
Cite this Entry
“Lobbyist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobbyist. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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