Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who frequents the lobby or the precincts of a legislature or other deliberative assembly, with the view of influencing the votes of members.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun U.S. A member of the lobby; a person who solicits members of a legislature for the purpose of influencing legislation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person remunerated to persuade (to lobby) politicians to vote in a certain way or otherwise use their office to effect a desired result.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone who is employed to persuade legislators to vote for legislation that favors the lobbyist's employer

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From lobby +‎ -ist

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Examples

  • Several blogs have since speculated that Goodstein is a corporate lobbyist in D.C. Well, Election Central just reached out to the office of registered-D. C.-lobbyist Richard Goodstein, got his cell number, and reached him.

    CT-SEN: Richard Goodstein: "Email Me The Last Good Story You Wrote About Joe Lieberman" 2009

  • The Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., has claimed that the term lobbyist originated there.

    Broke Glenn Beck 2010

  • While the term 'lobbyist' is never used, the document lists Craig Thomas, Freddie Mac's Director of Public Policy, as as the company's "project executive" who hired Mr Gingrich.

    Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph Raf Sanchez 2012

  • Bridling at the term "lobbyist," Santorum said that when he left the U.S. Senate, "I got involved in causes I believe in."

    News - latimes.com By Robin Abcarian 2012

  • Pelosi's comment, and Gingrich's forceful comeback, served up a stark view of the potholes the longtime politician-turned-Washington influence peddler he resists the label "lobbyist" faces on his quest to win the GOP nomination.

    News 2011

  • "The word lobbyist has taken on a bit of a pejorative character to it, so for that I may get the odd joke from my social democratic friends, but it's all in good humour," said Mr. MacLachlan, 30, who worked for successive Ottawa Centre NDP MPs Ed Broadbent and Paul Dewar.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed BILL CURRY 2011

  • Pelosi's comment, and Gingrich's forceful comeback, served up a stark view of the potholes the longtime politician-turned-Washington influence peddler he resists the label "lobbyist" faces on his quest to win the GOP nomination.

    News 2011

  • He keeps using the word 'lobbyist' because I'm sure his consultants tell him it scores well, Gingrich said.

    News - latimes.com By Ja 2012

  • McCain’s bill, for instance, redefines the term lobbyist to not only include people who expend money to influence the views of government officials, but also people who expend money to influence the views of the “general public”.

    Lean Left » Blog Archive » To Reform or Not to Reform 2006

  • You know that this DC lobbyist is Virginian, a Republican, and a racist just how exactly?

    Racist Virginia Republicans Strike Again 2009

Comments

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  • "'The ultimate issue here is Ecuador has mistreated a U.S. company,' said one Chevron lobbyist who asked not to be identified talking about the firm's arguments to U.S. officials. 'We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this—companies that have made big investments around the world.'"

    —Michael Isikoff, "A $16 Billion Problem," Newsweek, August 4, 2008, p. 27.

    And this person, gentle readers, is a tool of arrogance and evil incarnate. Fire is shooting out my ears right now, I'm so angry.

    August 7, 2008

  • Wow.

    August 7, 2008

  • "Chevron lobbyist who asked not to be identified" Wow. Won't go on record, eh?? Hmmm? And, hmmm?

    August 7, 2008

  • I can't believe someone could actually let these words past his/her lips, let alone to say such a thing to a reporter. It's just as well—they've been acting this way for decades. Now they're just coming right out and saying it publicly. The bastards.

    August 7, 2008

  • "Less Powerful Industry Lobbying Groups."

    September 3, 2008