What does filibusterer mean?
A filibusterer is someone who deliberately prevents progress in a legislature or other formal proceeding, usually by prolonged speeches, repeated procedural motions, appeals, or other delaying tactics. The term is especially common in political reporting, where it is often accusatory: calling someone a filibusterer suggests that their obstruction is calculated to prevent a vote rather than arise from principled disagreement. The word also has an older American sense. During the 19th century, filibusterers were private adventurers who organized armed expeditions intended to seize territory in Latin America and elsewhere. That historical meaning helped give the modern political term its associations with delay, obstruction, and political maneuvering. Although people may use the word loosely for anyone who resists a proposal, it more precisely refers to obstruction through deliberate procedural tactics, especially within a parliament, congress, senate, or comparable body.
nounA person who uses prolonged debate, procedural delays, or other delaying tactics to obstruct legislative action. Historically, especially in 19th-century US usage, a filibusterer was a private adventurer who organized or joined an armed expedition intended to seize territory in another country.
- A person who deliberately obstructs legislative or other formal decision-making through prolonged debate, procedural delays, or repeated motions.
- Historically, especially in the United States during the 19th century, a private adventurer who led or took part in an armed expedition against a foreign state with the aim of acquiring territory.
"Opposition members accused the senator of being a filibusterer who was deliberately delaying the vote."
"Several lawmakers described the repetitive motions as the work of a filibusterer."
"The nineteenth-century filibusterer gathered recruits and funds for an expedition to Cuba."
The standard plural adds -s and is used with a singular verb when referring collectively or in a quantified subject position.
"Several filibusterers kept the chamber occupied until the final vote was postponed."
In 19th-century America, a filibusterer might lead an armed expedition to claim foreign territory; the same word later came to mean a politician who talks a bill to death.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does filibusterer come from?
The noun filibusterer is an agentive derivative of filibuster. The word entered English through Dutch filibuster, related to French flibustier and Spanish filibustero, with an ultimately Arabic origin associated with raiding or plunder. In 19th-century American usage, filibusterers were private military adventurers; the political sense developed as the word came to denote the deliberate obstruction of legislative action.
Related word forms
How filibusterer is actually used
The modern sense is chiefly political and is often accusatory or disparaging. The private-adventurer sense is historical and is principally associated with 19th-century US usage.
Easily confused with filibusterer
A filibuster can refer to the tactic of obstructing legislation, whereas a filibusterer is the person who carries out that tactic.