special interest

noun

: a person or group seeking to influence legislative or government policy to further often narrowly defined interests

especially : lobby

Synonyms of special interest

• interest
• interest group

Examples of special interest in a Sentence

promised that as governor he would never be beholden to special interests

Recent Examples on the Web

With a few other liberal Democrats, nicknamed the Grizzlies, Sher would pick through turgid language of legislation looking for provisions that reflected the undue influence of special interests. — Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Unfortunately, the Commission's decision further opens the door for the General Assembly to be dominated by unions and other special interest groups. — Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 2 Sep. 2026

Building affordable housing at scale means politicians need to break up with wealthy special interests like the construction accident lawyers who plaster the city and MTA buses with billboards and ads. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026

The Protect College Sports Act provides a Christmas list of special interest favors to the NCAA and conferences with new, expansive legal immunities from state regulations and federal law. — U.s. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for special interest

• noninterest