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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Neither bill passed in the General Assembly’s lame duck session at the start of the new year. Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025 The lame duck Biden administration on Thursday announced another $500 million aid package, including air defense missiles, air-to-ground munitions and support equipment for F-16 fighter jets. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025 Biden has repeated these personal and ideological errors throughout his months as a lame duck. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 11 Jan. 2025 What to Know Joe Biden has signed several executive orders and laws during the lame duck period of his presidency that are targeted towards halting the Trump program. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for lame duck 

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 1 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

lame duck

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

More from Merriam-Webster on lame duck

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!