lobby

1 of 2

noun

lob·​by ˈlä-bē 

plural lobbies

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

2 of 2

verb

lobbied; lobbying

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

lobbyer noun

lobbyism

ˈlä-bē-ˌi-zəm 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• foyer
• hall

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

Nestled below the lobby, the Art Deco Hammam and Spa immerses guests in a black and white marble mosaic spa, inspired by the Turkish baths at the Royal Automobile Club in London and the original New York YMCA. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

The architect behind Timberline was also responsible for the hotel that inspired the film’s lobby and lounge design, Yosemite National Park’s Ahwahnee Hotel. —Zoe Baillargeon, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2024

Verb

What does Common Ground want to happen next? Common Ground, a Milwaukee-area nonprofit that has been lobbying for reform of the Housing Authority, says the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners shouldn't vote on the contract until next month, when new nominees could be added to the board. —Genevieve Redsten, Journal Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2024

The Arab Gulf states have also reportedly lobbied the White House to pressure Israel to refrain from hitting Iranian energy infrastructure. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin lobium gallery, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German louba porch

First Known Use

Noun

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

lobby

1 of 2 noun

lob·​by ˈläb-ē 

plural lobbies

1

: a hall or entry especially when large enough to serve as a waiting room

a hotel lobby

2

: a group of persons engaged in lobbying

the oil lobby

lobby

2 of 2 verb

lobbied; lobbying

: to try to influence public officials and especially members of a legislative body

lobbyist

ˈläb-ē-əst 

noun

Legal Definition

lobby

1 of 2 noun

lob·​by

plural lobbies

: a group of persons engaged in lobbying especially as representatives of a particular interest group

lobby

2 of 2 verb

lobbied; lobbying

intransitive verb

: to conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation

transitive verb

: to attempt to influence or sway (as a public official) toward a desired action

lobbyer noun

lobbyist noun