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

Kelly has spent his career as a lobbyist representing special interests. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

The speedway’s expense report, and others filed by entities providing gifts to state officials without engaging a lobbyist, has to be accessed via a public records request with the secretary of state. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026

Sean McCluskie, Becerra’s former chief of staff; Dana Williamson, a Democratic advisor and former chief of staff to Newsom; and lobbyist Greg Campbell have all pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges and are awaiting sentencing. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

The speaker didn’t take disciplinary action against Benton until this year when a female lobbyist said she was harassed by him at a River North bar in January, the Tribune reported. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lobbyist

• hobbyist