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

ˈlām-ˈdək 

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

As a lame duck upon entering office, those midterms might also see the soft start to the 2028 race and a further challenge to Trump's authority, sway and power. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025

The bottom line: DeSantis is entering the lame duck period of his governorship — and the Legislature on Monday reminded him of that. —Yacob Reyes, Axios, 27 Jan. 2025

Jerry Jones made Mike McCarthy a lame duck coach at the beginning of the year. —Dianna Russini, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

With him was Mayor Abraham Beame, a lame duck — but not Representative Ed Koch, who had defeated Beame in the Democratic primary and would be elected mayor in November. —James Barron, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lame duck

noun

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