for lack of
idiom
: not having (the thing specified)
They called it a comet, for lack of a better term/word.
For lack of anything better to do, we went to the park.
Examples of for lack of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fragile Plants Another class of plants to avoid are, for lack of a better phrase, fragile flowers.
—
Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2025
A little bit more refined, for lack of a better term.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 3 May 2025
In March, Paramount moved to dismiss Trump’s suit, filing two motions to dismiss the case (one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech).
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Donald Trump can’t even reliably win one of these things anymore, though not for lack of trying.
—George Kalogerakis, Air Mail, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for for lack of
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Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2025
A little bit more refined, for lack of a better term.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 3 May 2025
In March, Paramount moved to dismiss Trump’s suit, filing two motions to dismiss the case (one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech).
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Donald Trump can’t even reliably win one of these things anymore, though not for lack of trying.
—George Kalogerakis, Air Mail, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for for lack of
Cite this Entry
“For lack of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20lack%20of. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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