lame duck

noun

1
: one that is weak or that falls behind in ability or achievement
especially, chiefly British : an ailing company
2
: an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of a successor
3
: one whose position or term of office will soon end
lame-duck adjective

Examples of lame duck in a Sentence

The President was a lame duck during the end of his second term.
Recent Examples on the Web McCarthy might still be a lame duck heading into next season. USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024 Nine years after Ohio State hoisted the inaugural national champion trophy, Michigan finds itself in the College Football Playoff championship against Washington, a soon-to-be Big Ten member representing the lame duck Pac-12. Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2024 This dire view depends on every institutional bulwark of America’s system — from the courts to the military to public opinion — surrendering to a one-term president who, if history is any guide, will get rebuked in the midterms and become a lame duck by his third year in office. Rich Lowry, National Review, 3 Jan. 2024 As a lame duck, Parson would have nothing to lose, but legislators hoping to stay in office might be less likely to vote in favor of assisting billionaire sports franchise owners so close to the general election. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024 This problem is very likely to be compounded by the fact that he would be elected as a lame duck. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 13 Dec. 2023 Some readers notified key management or HR early in the process to allow for planning but waited to make a general announcement to colleagues to avoid an awkward lame duck period. Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023 In the interim, Donald Trump was elected president, against all expectations, and Democratic President Barack Obama became a lame duck. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2023 Perhaps, instead of trying to push the legislation through during the lame duck session, Shirkey was too busy working on his farewell address. Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lame duck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lame duck was in 1761

Dictionary Entries Near lame duck

Cite this Entry

“Lame duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame%20duck. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lame duck

noun
: an elected official continuing to hold office until a successor takes office

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