- 1 [countable] a large area inside the entrance of a public building where people can meet and wait synonym foyer a hotel lobby See related entries: In the office
- 2 [countable] (in the British Parliament) a large hall that is open to the public and used for people to meet and talk to Members of Parliament
- 3[countable + singular or plural verb] a group of people who try to influence politicians on a particular issue synonym pressure group The gun lobby is/are against any change in the law. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivepowerful, strong, anti-abortion, … verb + lobbyform, organize lobby + noungroup, organization prepositionlobby against, lobby for See full entry
- 4[countable, singular] (British English) an organized attempt by a group of people to influence politicians on a particular issue a recent lobby of Parliament by pensioners Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘monastic cloister’): from medieval Latin lobia, lobium ‘covered walk, portico’. The verb sense (originally US) derives from the practice of frequenting the lobby of a house of legislature to influence its members into supporting a cause.Extra examples Many groups have together mounted a lobby against cuts in hospitals. Residents have organized a lobby for improved local facilities. a powerful anti-smoking lobby Long-distance calls can only be made from the lobby of the hotel. The gun lobby is against any change in the law.
lobby
nounBrE BrE//ˈlɒbi//; NAmE NAmE//ˈlɑːbi//
(pl. lobbies) In the officeCheck pronunciation: lobby
