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
This isn’t a lame duck head coach working through the final year of his contract.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Trump, 78, serving in his second and final term, by definition becomes a lame duck as his party gazes over the horizon to a new generation of ambitious Republicans.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
Aaron Boone and the Yankees' front office don't want their manager to play out the 2025 season as a lame duck, but Boone is currently working on an expiring contract.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
This year, Ohio’s lame duck session ended this week with a flurry of activity that led to hundreds of bills being passed with last-minute additions or changes.
—J.d. Davidson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lame duck
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.
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Trump, 78, serving in his second and final term, by definition becomes a lame duck as his party gazes over the horizon to a new generation of ambitious Republicans.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
Aaron Boone and the Yankees' front office don't want their manager to play out the 2025 season as a lame duck, but Boone is currently working on an expiring contract.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
This year, Ohio’s lame duck session ended this week with a flurry of activity that led to hundreds of bills being passed with last-minute additions or changes.
—J.d. Davidson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lame duck
Cite this Entry
“Lame duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame%20duck. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share