special interest

noun

Synonyms of special interestnext
: a person or group seeking to influence legislative or government policy to further often narrowly defined interests
especially : lobby

Examples of special interest in a Sentence

promised that as governor he would never be beholden to special interests
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kennedy has taken a special interest in healthy school lunches as part of his MAHA initiative. Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026 Of special interest this year is Sart Roloise, a Belgian beefsteak variety that performs well in Southern California. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Feb. 2026 Obama had said the high court opened the door to a flood of special interest money in politics in the Citizens United case a week earlier. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026 Candidates sniped at each other — though rarely by name — for being too rich, too beholden to special interests or for voting in the past in support of ICE and border wall funding. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for special interest

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of special interest was in 1906

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Special interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20interest. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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