filibuster
Filibuster (noun) means a tactic used in a legislature — typically extended, often irrelevant speeches — to stall a vote or block a decision. Example: “The senator held the floor for twelve hours in a filibuster against the bill.”
How to use filibuster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDeliberately talking for a very long time in parliament or Congress to delay or block a vote.
Most commonly heard in U.S. politics, describing senators speaking for hours to stall legislation.
Trace the full origin ↓Word forms
filibustered past tense, filibusters plural, filibusters singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The senator held the floor for twelve hours in a _____ against the bill.
Etymology
From Spanish filibustero ("pirate"), itself from French flibustier, ultimately traced back to Dutch vrijbuiter — "freebooter" — the same root that gives English the word freebooter.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for filibuster
See all rhymes for filibuster →Frequently asked questions
What does “filibuster” mean?
The word “filibuster” means a tactic used in a legislature — typically extended, often irrelevant speeches — to stall a vote or block a decision. In plain terms, deliberately talking for a very long time in parliament or Congress to delay or block a vote.
How do you pronounce “filibuster”?
“Filibuster” is pronounced FIH-lih-buhs-tuh (/ˈfɪləˌbəstər/ in IPA).
How do you use “filibuster” in a sentence?
Here is “filibuster” used in a sentence: “The senator held the floor for twelve hours in a filibuster against the bill.”
What part of speech is “filibuster”?
Depending on how it is used, “filibuster” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “filibuster” come from?
The word “filibuster” comes from French. From Spanish filibustero ("pirate"), itself from French flibustier, ultimately traced back to Dutch vrijbuiter — "freebooter" — the same root that gives English the word freebooter.
How many meanings does “filibuster” have?
“Filibuster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tactic used in a legislature — typically extended, often irrelevant speeches — to stall a vote or block a decision.