Filibuster

Quick meaning: Filibuster is a noun meaning (US politics) A member of a legislative body causing such an obstruction.

Meaning

(US politics) A member of a legislative body causing such an obstruction.

More Meanings

1. To take part in a private military action in a foreign country.
2. (originally and chiefly US politics, intransitive, transitive) To use obstructionist tactics in a legislative body.
3. (US politics) A tactic (such as giving long, often irrelevant speeches) employed to delay the proceedings of, or the making of a decision by, a legislative body, particularly the United States Senate.
4. (historical) A mercenary soldier; a freebooter; specifically, a mercenary who travelled illegally in an organized group from the United States to a country in Central America or the Spanish West Indies in the mid-19th century seeking economic and political benefits through armed force.

Example Sentences

So now that the Republicans have used the nuclear option to kill the poor filibuster to clear the way for the elevation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, we can lose perspective.

Then, last month, before the survey was finished and for reasons still unclear, the Democrats abruptly tried to attach a repeal of the law to the defence appropriations bill, a stratagem the Republicans defeated in a filibuster.

By this theory, the Democratic Party is kept out of power by a white Republican minority that thwarts the popular will through voter suppression, gerrymandering, judicial legislating, the filibuster, the composition of the Senate, and the Electoral College.

Mexico's War of Independence (1810–1821) encouraged an increase in the activity of filibusters in northern Mexico, particularly Texas. Spain's concentration on repressing independence movements within Mexico created opportunities for filibusters to seize control of its northern frontier regions.

Word Forms

• filibusters
• fillibuster
• filibustering
• filibustered

Synonyms for filibuster

Depending on context, synonyms include adventurer, bravo, condottiere, freebooter, freelance, hireling.

Antonyms for filibuster

Common opposites include cloture, generalize, generalise.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include obstructionism, blockage, obstructionist, obstruction, obstructive, obscuration.

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