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
These races will give early clues about who will win the House
Such an ambiguous outcome would complicate not only the legislative work Congress has on deck to tackle in the postelection lame duck session, but also the leadership landscape in the next Congress.
—
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
This chapter of the cannabis civil war is coming to a close just as Congress is set to go into the lame duck session and as both candidates for President have espoused support for legalization.
—Robert Hoban, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
We’re supposed to be in lame duck in early January.
—Greg Bishop | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Nov. 2024
Illinois banned the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities during lame duck session of the Illinois General Assembly in January 2023.
—Greg Bishop | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lame duck 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
This chapter of the cannabis civil war is coming to a close just as Congress is set to go into the lame duck session and as both candidates for President have espoused support for legalization.
—Robert Hoban, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
We’re supposed to be in lame duck in early January.
—Greg Bishop | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Nov. 2024
Illinois banned the sale and possession of more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities during lame duck session of the Illinois General Assembly in January 2023.
—Greg Bishop | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lame duck
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 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share