lobbyist
gb/lˈɑbiɪst/ us/lˈɑbiɪst/
B2
English
~ 8700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
Person paid to influence officials
A person who is paid to talk to government leaders and try to change laws or rules for a company, group, or cause.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a lobbyist for [an organization or industry]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think a lobbyist is someone who works in the entrance area (lobby) of a hotel or office, like a receptionist. In modern English, 'lobbyist' almost always means a political professional who tries to influence government decisions, not someone who works in a building lobby. Learners may also confuse 'lobbyist' with 'activist'; an activist may protest in public, while a lobbyist usually works inside the political system, meeting with officials.
Synonyms
advocate (Broader and more general; can be unpaid or informal, while a lobbyist is usually a paid professional working with government.)
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pressure group representative (More descriptive phrase often used in news; emphasizes representing an organized group that applies pressure on policymakers.)
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policy consultant (More neutral and formal; suggests advising on policy as well as influencing it, and may sound less political than 'lobbyist'.)
Antonyms
elected official (An elected official makes or votes on laws, whereas a lobbyist tries to persuade those officials from outside the government.)
Collocations
corporate lobbyist
|registered lobbyist
|industry lobbyist
|professional lobbyist
|paid lobbyist
|Washington lobbyist
Themes
politics
|business
|law
Examples
- The energy company hired a lobbyist to argue against the new environmental regulations.
- Several lobbyists met with senators to push for changes to the tax code.
- She worked as a lobbyist for a consumer rights group before running for office herself.
- The report revealed how much money corporations spend on lobbyists each year.
- Critics say lobbyists have too much influence over national health policy.
Learner examples
- He is a lobbyist for a big car company.
- The lobbyist talks to many politicians every week.
- Some people think lobbyists have too much power in government.
- Her father works as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.
- The group hired a lobbyist to help change the law.
Grammar
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.