lobbyist

noun

lob·​by·​ist ˈlä-bē-ist 

plural lobbyists

: one who conducts activities aimed at influencing or swaying public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation : a person engaged in lobbying public officials

The new rule says that if you were a registered lobbyist in the past two years, you can't work for the administration on any issue you touched. After you leave government, you can't lobby the administration at all.

—Jacob Weisberg

Because so many lobbyists have past experience on Capitol Hill, they usually have personal ties both to members of congress and to their key staffers, who vet and prioritize the earmark requests.

—Ken Silverstein

Examples of lobbyist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The incumbent, former coal-industry lobbyist Mike Carey, won by 13 points two years ago. — Naomi Nix, Time, 29 Oct. 2026

Businesses in adjacent industries are also stockpiling Democratic lobbyists — and occasionally phasing out Republican hands — in preparation for 2027. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Also filing nominating petitions in the past week were Johnson, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, lobbyist John Kelly, Congressman Mike Quigley, former Chicago Housing Authority board chairman Matt Brewer, and businessman Willie Wilson. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Daffron—who has shifted between jobs as a lobbyist and a congressional staffer—became Collins’s political mentor and, in 2012, her husband. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lobbyist

• hobbyist