noun

filibuster

/ˈfɪlɪbʌstər/ · say it: FIL·uh·bus·ter

prolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action

In Politics & Diplomacy

In more detail

1. (noun) a long speech made in a parliament or legislature to delay or prevent a vote

2. (verb) to make a long speech in order to delay or prevent a vote

Examples

1. The senator's filibuster lasted for 15 hours and blocked the bill from being voted on.
2. Opposition lawmakers decided to filibuster rather than allow the controversial law to pass.

How to use filibuster

Filibuster is primarily a formal, political term describing a parliamentary delaying tactic, most associated with the U.S. Senate where it has particular procedural significance. The noun refers both to the tactic itself and sometimes to the person employing it. The verb means to deliberately prolong debate to block legislation, and is generally neutral in tone though often carries connotations of obstruction.

Common phrases

filibuster a bill
launch a filibuster
mount a filibuster
break a filibuster
end-run the filibuster

Synonyms

obstruct · delay · stall · block · 延宕戦術

Word family

filibusterer (noun) · filibustering (noun/adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse filibuster with simple debate or disagreement; it specifically denotes prolonged speech intended to delay a vote, not merely opposing a measure.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD