fil·i·bus·ter
ˈfi-lə-ˌbə-stər 
1
: an irregular military adventurer
specifically
: an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century
2
a
: the use of extreme dilatory (see dilatory sense 1) tactics (as by making long speeches) in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly
b
: an instance of this practice
The filibuster delayed the voting on the bill for over a week.
filibustered; filibustering
ˈfi-lə-ˌbə-st(ə-)riŋ
1
: to carry out insurrectionist activities in a foreign country
2
: to engage in a filibuster
: to subject to a filibuster
Examples of filibuster in a Sentence
Noun
They engaged in a filibuster that lasted for over a week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Yet many of the same Democrats want to pack the Supreme Court, eliminate the Senate filibuster, get rid of the Electoral College, give federal agencies the right to impose eviction moratoriums and forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in student debt without the consent of Congress.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Just months later, Republicans filibustered each of Obama’s three nominees to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, widely considered the second-most powerful court in the country.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See all Example Sentences for filibuster 
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Noun
Among the key issues the candidates are likely to decide on are whether to impose term limits on Senate leaders to prevent another 18-year reign like McConnell's, and whether to scrap the Senate filibuster.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Yet many of the same Democrats want to pack the Supreme Court, eliminate the Senate filibuster, get rid of the Electoral College, give federal agencies the right to impose eviction moratoriums and forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in student debt without the consent of Congress.
—Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
For example, by physically occupying the space, getting control of the microphone or by surrounding someone who is filibustering, to prevent their removal by law enforcement.
—Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Just months later, Republicans filibustered each of Obama’s three nominees to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, widely considered the second-most powerful court in the country.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See all Example Sentences for filibuster
Dictionary Entries Near filibuster
Cite this Entry
“Filibuster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filibuster. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
filibuster
1 of 2 noun
fil·i·bus·ter
ˈfil-ə-ˌbəs-tər
: the use of delaying tactics (as long speeches) to put off or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly
also
: an instance of this practice
filibuster
2 of 2 verb
filibustered; filibustering
-t(ə-)riŋ
: to engage in a filibuster
Etymology
Noun
from Spanish filibustero, literally, "freebooter," probably derived from English freebooter
Word Origin
One Dutch word has given us two different English words. The Dutch word vrijbuiter referred to a pirate or plunderer. The English borrowed this word in the 16th century, translating it as freebooter. The word was later picked up by the Spanish, who kept the same meaning but altered it to filibustero. Both words stayed in the realm of history until the middle of the 19th century. Then soldiers of fortune went out from the U.S. to try to cause uprisings in Central American countries. The governments there accused these Americans of wanting personal gain more than justice and called them filibusteros. English-speaking journalists wrote this word as filibuster, making it sound more like an English word. Later in the 19th century, members of Congress who delayed passage of laws by means such as long speeches were compared to the adventurers of Central America, who were trying to overthrow legitimate rule. Filibuster then came to mean "the use of delaying tactics to put off or prevent the passage of laws."
Legal Definition
filibuster
1 of 2 noun
fil·i·bus·ter
ˈfi-lə-ˌbəs-tər
: the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly
also
: an instance of this practice
filibuster
2 of 2 verb
filibustered; filibustering
: to engage in a filibuster
: to subject to a filibuster
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