lobby

¹lob·by

noun \ˈlä-bē\

plural lobbies

Definition of LOBBY

1

: a corridor or hall connected with a larger room or series of rooms and used as a passageway or waiting room: as

a : an anteroom of a legislative chamber; especially : one of two anterooms of a British parliamentary chamber to which members go to vote during a division

b : a large hall serving as a foyer (as of a hotel or theater)

2

: a group of persons engaged in lobbying especially as representatives of a particular interest group

Examples of LOBBY

1. I'll meet you in the lobby after the show.
2. The proposed new law is supported by the oil lobby.

Origin of LOBBY

Medieval Latin lobium gallery, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German louba porch

First Known Use: 1593

Related to LOBBY

Synonyms

hall, foyer

Related Words

entranceway, entry, entryway, hallway, vestibule; concourse, corridor, gallery, passageway; antechamber, anteroom, chamber, waiting room

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

Rhymes with LOBBY

bobby, cobby, dobby, globby, hobby, knobby, nobby, Sabi, snobby, swabbie

²lobby

verb

lob·biedlob·by·ing

Definition of LOBBY

intransitive verb

: to conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation

transitive verb

1

: to promote (as a project) or secure the passage of (as legislation) by influencing public officials

2

: to attempt to influence or sway (as a public official) toward a desired action

— lob·by·er noun

— lob·by·ism \-ˌi-zəm\ noun

— lob·by·ist \-ist\ noun

Examples of LOBBY

1. an organization that has been lobbying for reform of the tax laws
2. The health-care industry has lobbied against the proposal.
3. an organization that has been lobbying Congress for reform of the tax laws
4. a player who has lobbied hard to be included in the team's starting lineup
5. I lobbied our company for a new computer.

First Known Use of LOBBY

1837

Rhymes with LOBBY

hobby