lobby

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lobby" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to advocating for a cause or influencing decision-makers, often in politics or business. Example: "The organization decided to lobby for environmental reforms to address climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Yes, I had concerns about Mr Obeid's son working for the company … yes, I was lobbied, but that's the nature of being premier, people lobby the premier, it doesn't mean they get what they want".

The Guardian

Chief executives of companies such as Burberry, Tesco, Vodafone, BAE Systems, Prudential and GSK were keen to take a final opportunity to lobby the prime minister in advance of the meeting of political leaders in Northern Ireland.

The Guardian - Tech

"In my normal way, I probably would have said, 'I'll look into it.' " Costa said Obeid began to lobby him about AWH within a month of him becoming a minister and he had a conversation with Obeid in which Obeid suggested a corruption complaint may be made against Schott.

The Guardian

(Jones's response was that they ought to lobby for more federal support).

The Economist

The public health community has an important role to play in demonstrating the magnitude of tobacco's threat to public health and calling on governments to strip away the trademark protections, rights to sue and opportunities to lobby that big tobacco uses to bully public representatives.

The Guardian

And it is the Saudis who now, in improbable alliance with Binyamin Netanyahu's Israel, lobby most forcefully against any American nuclear deal, or broader western rapprochement, with Shia Iran, their sworn enemy.

The Guardian

We are continuing our campaign, and continue to lobby for intervention from Ed Vaizey and Jeremy Hunt (who are responsible for superintending library services nationwide) to avoid yet more needless waste of public money and irreparable damage to our library service.

The Guardian - Books

Related: 'I start to feel it in my knees' – working for hours while standing proves a tall order The conspiracy theorists among you are probably thinking this is just a thinly disguised attempt by the standing desk lobby.

The Guardian - Opinion

Abbott does want to lock in a "business as usual approach", where the coal and mining lobby runs his government by proxy.

The Guardian

An hour south of Austin, in the lobby of the Westoak Woods Baptist Church convention centre, morgellons sufferers from the US, UK, Spain, Germany and Mexico gather by the breakfast buffet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It reflects the continued strong influence of the evangelical Christian lobby within the party".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lobby" as a verb, clearly state who is doing the lobbying and who they are lobbying to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "The organization decided to "lobby" the senators" is clearer than simply saying "The organization decided to "lobby".

Common error

Avoid using "lobby" interchangeably with general advocacy or communication. "Lobbying" specifically refers to attempts to influence public officials or decision-makers on particular issues. Using "lobby" when simply communicating with stakeholders can dilute its meaning and be misleading.

Linguistic Context

Noun: Refers to an entrance or reception area or a group influencing officials. Verb: Means to attempt to influence a public official. Ludwig examples showcase both usages, affirming its multifaceted role in communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "lobby" functions both as a noun, referring to an entrance area or an influential group, and as a verb, denoting the act of influencing public officials. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically correct and very common, primarily appearing in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When writing, ensure you clarify the subject and target of the "lobbying" action to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives such as "advocate", "campaign for", or "exert influence" can provide nuanced substitutes, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

influence policy

Directly relates to affecting governmental decisions.

advocacy group

Highlights the act of supporting a cause or policy.

interest group

Similar to pressure group, highlighting shared interests.

pressure group

Emphasizes the collective action to influence policy.

exert influence

Describes the act of having an effect on decisions.

entrance area

Focuses on the physical space aspect of a lobby.

campaign for

Focuses on the active effort to promote a cause.

reception area

Highlights the function of a lobby as a welcoming space.

vestibule

Refers to a small entrance hall or passageway between the outer door and the interior of a building.

anteroom

Implies a waiting room before a larger space.

FAQs

How to use "lobby" in a sentence?

You can use "lobby" as a noun, referring to an entrance area, or as a verb, meaning to influence public officials. For example, "The meeting took place in the hotel "lobby"" or "Environmental groups "lobby" for stricter regulations".

What can I say instead of "lobby" (influence)?

You can use alternatives like "advocate", "campaign for", or "exert influence", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "lobby" and "advocate"?

"Lobby" typically refers to influencing public officials, while "advocate" has a broader meaning of publicly supporting or recommending a particular cause or policy.

Is it correct to say "lobby for" or "lobby against" a cause?

Yes, both "lobby for" and "lobby against" are correct. "Lobby for" means to promote or support a cause, while "lobby against" means to oppose it.