filibuster

¹fil·i·bus·ter

noun \ˈfi-lə-ˌbəs-tər\

Definition of FILIBUSTER

1

: an irregular military adventurer; specifically : an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century

2

[²filibuster]

a : the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly

b : an instance of this practice

Examples of FILIBUSTER

1. They engaged in a filibuster that lasted for over a week.

Origin of FILIBUSTER

Spanish filibustero, literally, freebooter

First Known Use: 1851

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with FILIBUSTER

antitruster, baby buster, broncobuster, knuckle-duster

²filibuster

verb

filibusteredfilibuster·ing \-t(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of FILIBUSTER

intransitive verb

1

: to carry out insurrectionist activities in a foreign country

2

: to engage in a filibuster

transitive verb

: to subject to a filibuster

— fil·i·bus·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun

First Known Use of FILIBUSTER

1851

filibuster

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Tactic of delaying action on a bill by talking long enough to wear down the majority in order to win concessions or force withdrawal of the bill. The tactic is normally employed by a group that cannot muster enough votes to defeat a bill by vote. Filibustering is possible in the U.S. Senate because Senate rules allow unlimited debate on a bill. A filibuster may be carried out by a group or a single member, and the speech need not be related to the bill under discussion. Calling for a vote to limit debate (cloture)—which requires 60 votes, the votes of three-fifths of the entire membership, in the U.S. Senate—or holding around-the-clock sessions to tire the speakers are measures used to defeat filibusters.