lobby

1 of 2

noun

lob·​by ˈlä-bē 

plural lobbies

1

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

the gun lobby

the oil lobby

lobby

2 of 2

verb

lobbied; lobbying

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1

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

lobby a bill through Congress

2

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

lobbying senators for tax reform

lobbyer noun

lobbyism

ˈlä-bē-ˌi-zəm 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• foyer
• hall

Examples of lobby in a Sentence

Noun

I'll meet you in the lobby after the show.

The proposed new law is supported by the oil lobby.

Verb

an organization that has been lobbying for reform of the tax laws

The health-care industry has lobbied against the proposal.

an organization that has been lobbying Congress for reform of the tax laws

a player who has lobbied hard to be included in the team's starting lineup

I lobbied our company for a new computer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Off the lobby, the elevator vestibule is drenched in a buzzy hot pink neon light. —Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024

In a gesture of sensitivity to the temple’s Muslim guests, Mulla said, Vogel also offered to cover up Hebrew scrolls in the lobby. —Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

The technology debuted in 2018 with the opening of a convenience store in the lobby of Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. —Matt Day, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Each Walmart also has a front lobby wall mural showcasing the local community. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2024

As the hotel’s doorman, complete with top hat and tails, opens the door to its opulent lobby and a piano player tinkles keys in the distance, that dream solidifies into reality. —Rob Ledonne, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2024

The European farmers’ lobby group Copa-Cogeca has called for a relaxation in environmental laws, such as those on fertilizers. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 26 Mar. 2024

Contemporary paintings by artists who have overcome homelessness or disabilities greet visitors in the lobby. —Jonathan Saltzman — Boston Globe, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024

This isn't the first time Costco has reportedly sought to deter non-members from eating at the food lobby. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024

Verb

Crypto promoters have been stepping up their lobbying in Washington; crypto firms spent nearly $20 million on lobbying in the first nine months of 2023, according to the watchdog group Open Secrets. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

For several years, Black residents in the region have lobbied local and state officials to take action against petrochemical plants emitting toxic pollutants into the air. —USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

The Vietnamese company has reportedly lobbied India to reduce import duties on its cars for two years. —William Gavin, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024

Nearly all national and regional restaurant chains long ago stopped using polystyrene in response to lobbying from environmental groups and backlash from customers concerned that foam isn’t biodegradable. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

Both have lobbied for funds to develop farmworker housing in the area, including 46 new units at 880 Stone Pine Road in Half Moon Bay. —Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

Tech companies have been among the biggest spenders on lobbying over the past decade, first as Congress tried to regulate social media and now as lawmakers turn their attention to AI. —Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Still, there’s little recourse for those in states that have not passed such protections, which has prompted lobbying from Hollywood. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024

The group spent around $143,000 on lobbying efforts in 2023, a huge uptick from previous years. —Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

lobby

1 of 2 noun

lob·​by ˈläb-ē 

plural lobbies

1

: a hall or entry especially when large enough to serve as a waiting room

a hotel lobby

2

: a group of persons engaged in lobbying

the oil lobby

lobby

2 of 2 verb

lobbied; lobbying

: to try to influence public officials and especially members of a legislative body

lobbyist

ˈläb-ē-əst 

noun

Legal Definition

lobby

1 of 2 noun

lob·​by

plural lobbies

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

lobby

2 of 2 verb

lobbied; lobbying

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

lobbyer noun

lobbyist noun