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
lame-duck adjective

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
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.
Acquiring Tucker from the Houston Astros last offseason represented an unusually risky and aggressive move for Hoyer, who went into this season as a lame duck and recently signed a contract extension for an undisclosed length. Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025 Trump becomes a lame duck, and the US focus after the mid-term elections returns to traditional foreign policy norms of opposing Moscow and its backer Beijing. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025 President Lai also runs the risk of being viewed as a lame duck if recall votes as a tactical approach continue to be defeated. Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025 Their final version of the report on this came out in November 2020 during a lame duck session, after Trump had lost but while the Republicans were still in control of the Senate. NBC news, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for lame duck

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lame duck was in 1761

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Cite this Entry

“Lame duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lame%20duck. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

lame duck

noun
: an elected official continuing to hold office until a successor takes office

More from Merriam-Webster on lame duck

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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