interest group

interest group

noun

Definition of INTEREST GROUP

: a group of persons having a common identifying interest that often provides a basis for action

Examples of INTEREST GROUP

1. <agricultural interest groups are adamantly opposed to the bill>

First Known Use of INTEREST GROUP

1908

Related to INTEREST GROUP

Synonyms

interest, pressure group, special interest

Related Words

vested interest; political action committee

interest group

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

any association of individuals or organizations, usually formally organized, that, on the basis of one or more shared concerns, attempts to influence public policy in its favour. All interest groups share a desire to affect government policy to benefit themselves or their cause. It could be a policy that exclusively benefits group members or one segment of society (e.g., government subsidies for farmers) or a policy that advances a broader public purpose (e.g., improving air quality). Interest groups are a natural outgrowth of the communities of interests that exist in all societies, from the narrowest groups such as the Japan Eraser Manufacturers Association to broader groups such as the AFL-CIO to very broad organizations such as the military in authoritarian countries. Interest groups exist at all levels of government—national, state, provincial, and local—and increasingly they have occupied an important role in international affairs.

Variants of INTEREST GROUP

interest group or pressure group