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
Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2025
First, House and Senate Republicans need to pass identical versions of a budget resolution to get access to reconciliation, a feature of the budget process that bypasses a Senate filibuster tied to Democratic opposition.
—Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
His marathon speech, which began at 7 p.m. on Monday and stretched into Tuesday night, shattered the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, set by Strom Thurmond in 1957, a segregationist who filibustered against the Civil Rights Act.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
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Noun
The resolution passed through the Congressional Review Act, a unique legislative process to bypass the filibuster and allow a simple majority vote in both chambers to cancel regulations.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2025
First, House and Senate Republicans need to pass identical versions of a budget resolution to get access to reconciliation, a feature of the budget process that bypasses a Senate filibuster tied to Democratic opposition.
—Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
The late South Carolina politician previously held the record for filibustering in opposition of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
His marathon speech, which began at 7 p.m. on Monday and stretched into Tuesday night, shattered the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, set by Strom Thurmond in 1957, a segregationist who filibustered against the Civil Rights Act.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for filibuster
Cite this Entry
“Filibuster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filibuster. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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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