lobby

noun

lob·by | \ ˈlä-bē

plural lobbies

Definition of lobby

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb

lobbied; lobbying

Definition of lobby (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from lobby Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about lobby

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Other Words from lobby

Verb

lobbyer noun

lobbyism \ ˈlä-bē-ˌi-zəm

\ noun

lobbyist \ ˈlä-bē-ist

\ 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: Noun

In addition to the Instagram-worthy guest rooms, visitors to the lodge can take in mountain views from the room's terraces, cozy up by the lobby's round stove, and enjoy the many activities the lodge puts on throughout the year. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "Where to Stay in New York's Hudson Valley," 5 Apr. 2019 Another shows a subtly morphing lobby wall that could just as easily become a textured facade. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Say hello to ‘Brixel’, 2018’s answer to the brick," 16 Oct. 2018 The results were less than successful; the simple aqua pool suddenly sported a border of highly decorative cobalt and white Portuguese tile, while pinky-beige crown moldings appeared in the lobbies. — Steven Stolman, House Beautiful, "This Delightfully Retro Apartment Complex Has Been Home to Design Royalty," 6 Mar. 2019 Asked months later about the defeat of his legislation, the governor said gun-control groups are simply not as unified as the pro-gun lobby. — Ryan J. Foley, Fox News, "AP: Despite shootings, states return to familiar patterns," 26 Sep. 2018 Following the screening, guests sauntered to the lobby bar of the Whitby Hotel, where the lush surroundings felt as though they were plucked straight from the silver screen. — Zachary Weiss, Vogue, "Keira Knightley Smoldered at the New York Premiere of Her Post-War Drama The Aftermath," 14 Mar. 2019 Wake Up Call transformed the hotel’s ample rooftop space, massive lobby, and pool into festival grounds. — Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, "This Is What Actually Goes Down at a Fitness Festival," 27 Oct. 2018 Edgy design elements include a lobby chandelier constructed solely of car parts, and a wall inspired by safety deposit boxes. — Necee Regis, BostonGlobe.com, "Here, there, and everywhere," 10 July 2018 Pharma is a powerful lobby that warns sternly about the threats to innovation under stricter price controls. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Warren’s interesting new bill to lower generic drug prices, explained.," 20 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

After decades in public office, former congressman and King County sheriff Dave Reichert is headed to the private sector, joining a local lobbying firm. — Jim Brunner, The Seattle Times, "Retired Rep. Dave Reichert joins lobbying firm, will work initially on anti-human trafficking project," 14 Jan. 2019 The executives’ comments are the public face of their lobbying efforts to shape debates arising world-wide on tighter data regulation. — Daniel Michaels, WSJ, "IBM CEO Ginni Rometty Criticizes Big Internet Platforms for Mishandling Customers’ Data," 26 Nov. 2018 Sessions, by contrast, has ramped up those threats and has also lobbied Congress to reduce current protections for medical marijuana. — Evan Halper, latimes.com, "Trump says he is likely to support ending blanket federal ban on marijuana," 8 June 2018 The Boy Scouts has kept its lobbying efforts low-profile. — The Washington Post, OregonLive.com, "Boy Scouts fight to limit older sexual abuse claims after $18.5 million Oregon case," 11 May 2018 Before their arrests, all had become well-known for lobbying the government to allow women to drive and abolish a system of male guardianship over women. ... — Rory Jones, WSJ, "Saudi Arabia Charges Women’s Activists in Widely Scrutinized Case," 13 Mar. 2019 Stand for Children also spent $473,172 lobbying Indiana lawmakers on Public Law 1321, which was passed in 2014. — Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, "What’s really going on in Indiana’s public schools," 12 July 2018 Bacon said his organization has been lobbying lawmakers to increase the passenger facility fee that is charged on all airline tickets to pay for airport modernization and expansion projects. — Hugo Martin, latimes.com, "U.S. airports near new passenger record as demand for air travel continues to grow," 6 July 2018 The House is touting passage of dozens of bills that could help combat the national opioid crisis, but a small handful of companies that have spent millions lobbying Congress could reap a windfall if any of the bills become law, Politico informs us. — Ed Silverman, STAT, "Pharmalittle: FDA OKs first medicine derived from marijuana; drug makers benefit from opioid bills," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lobby.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.