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
lobbied; lobbying
: to conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation
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
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
News Desk, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2025
The gun then killed LePatner, an executive at the big financial firm Blackstone, who was in the lobby at 6:30 likely heading home to her own husband, teen daughter and seventh grader son.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Although the council of PTAs hasn’t officially taken a position on the takeover, many of its members discussed plans to lobby local officials and state lawmakers who represent Fort Worth, calling on them to speak out against the potential move.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lobby
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Glenn Ligon’s 2007 neon work Give Us a Poem will appear in the lobby; Houston Conwill’s The Joyful Mysteries, 1984, will occupy the second floor.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2025
The gun then killed LePatner, an executive at the big financial firm Blackstone, who was in the lobby at 6:30 likely heading home to her own husband, teen daughter and seventh grader son.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
That means educating the public, lobbying for smarter regulation, and giving a microphone to the good actors.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Although the council of PTAs hasn’t officially taken a position on the takeover, many of its members discussed plans to lobby local officials and state lawmakers who represent Fort Worth, calling on them to speak out against the potential move.
—Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lobby
Cite this Entry
“Lobby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobby. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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