pressure groupn.

1924 Lincoln (Nebraska) State Jrnl. 26 Jan. 6/1 Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel of the anti-saloon league, is credited with coining the expressive term of ‘pressure groups’ in connection with national legislation and the formation of public opinion. A ‘pressure group’ is made up of a larger or smaller body of citizens who know exactly what they want and have enough energy to press their claims.

1928 P. H. Odegard Pressure Politics vii. 202 The character of pressure groups as of individuals can frequently be understood from the manner in which they spend their money.

1937 B. Zeller Pressure Politics in N.Y. viii. 229 The outstanding feature of modern pressure group technique is the widespread use of propaganda channels.

1959 Oxf. Univ. Gaz. 16 Mar. 795/1 It is an interesting aspect of the workings of pressure-group politics to see that in Australia and New Zealand it is the interests of the manufacturers which prevail..against the general good of those countries.

1978 Dædalus Spring 75 Members of Congress now tend to look on them [sc. scientists] as just another selfish pressure group, and not as the wizards of perpetual progress.

2005 Financial Times (Nexis) 28 Nov. 1 Pressure groups and the media are getting savvier.

1940 Ethics 50 224 Given an individualism which rests upon the conception of exclusive interests supplemented by pressure groupism.

1966 New Statesman 13 May 683/1 Comment on this affair included, not surprisingly, accusations of pressure groupism and intolerance.