lightning rod

noun

1

: a grounded metallic rod set up on a structure (such as a building) to protect it from lightning

2

: one that serves to divert attack from another

3

: one that is a frequent target of criticism or focus of controversy

she has become a convenient lightning rod for voters' discontent with law-and-order issues

—Aric Press et al.

Examples of lightning rod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Zoom out: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been a lightning rod for controversy, as many music critics and musicians alike have questioned their authority and relevance over the years. —Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025

Former Reba co-stars Melissa Peterman (as Gabby, the needy and dramatic bartender) and Reba McEntire already have proven chemistry, and any scene between the two is a lightning rod for plenty of chuckles. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025

But their hypothesis has been a lightning rod for criticism, mostly because lightning doesn't happen often enough to trigger enough chemical reactions over something as big and spread-out as the ocean. —Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025

The bill is the latest twist in the nearly decade-long saga of ethnic studies in California, which has become a lightning rod for culture war arguments about diversity, history and racial identity -- especially during the Israel-Gaza war that erupted in October 2023. —Molly Gibbs and Grant Stringer Bay Area News Group (tns), arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lightning rod

• amphipod
• arthropod
• copepod
• decapod
• endopod
• escalade
• esplanade
• exopod
• gastropod
• goldenrod
• isopod
• overawed

Kids Definition

lightning rod

noun

: a metal rod set up on a building or a ship and connected with the earth or water below to decrease the chances of damage from lightning