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lobbying expense

lobbying expense

1 5.8
Money a company spends to influence laws or government decisions
  • noun
  • /ˈlɑbiɪŋ ɪkˈspɛns/
translation icon : gastos de cabildeo
  • Many companies report their lobbying expenses in annual financial statements to ensure transparency.
  • tax deduction for lobbying expenses
  • deduct lobbying expenses

Examples

  • The government is reviewing regulations regarding lobbying expenses to prevent corruption in the political system.

  • Likewise, taxpayers can still deduct lobbying expenses if they are to influence local officials or local legislation.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Taxpayers can still deduct "in-house" lobbying expenses if they are less than $2,000.

    Academic text (1993)
  • In his speech, the senator discussed the impact of lobbying expenses on public policy and the need for reform.

Surface Forms

Morphology

lobby + expense

The noun phrase is a direct composition of 'lobby' (to influence officials) and 'expense' (money spent), so its meaning — money spent on lobbying — is transparently derivable from the constituents. This gerund/modifier + expense pattern is common and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Lobbying expense comes from the image of people waiting in a building's lobby to speak with politicians and ask for help. The money spent on that activity—the expense—came to mean any money paid 'to influence' laws or government decisions.