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
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
Harry Truman as a lame duck in 1952 tried and failed to end the war in Korea; that was achieved by successor Dwight Eisenhower.
—
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the Manchin-Barrasso permitting overhaul Wednesday, breathing new life into a possible lame duck push.
—Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 31 July 2024
The Bush administration was both a lame duck and deeply unpopular abroad.
—Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2020
The discouragement of history for lame ducks Biden's speech was shorter, and his message didn't come as a surprise.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lame duck 
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the Manchin-Barrasso permitting overhaul Wednesday, breathing new life into a possible lame duck push.
—Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 31 July 2024
The Bush administration was both a lame duck and deeply unpopular abroad.
—Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2020
The discouragement of history for lame ducks Biden's speech was shorter, and his message didn't come as a surprise.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for lame duck
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Lame duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame%20duck. Accessed 6 Sep. 2024.
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