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
Hoyer, Chicago’s president of baseball operations, entered this season as a lame duck but recently finalized a contract extension that eliminated a degree of uncertainty about this trade deadline and brought some clarity for the future.
—
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 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
Lansing was close to funding CVI last legislative session in 2023 to 2024, but a chaotic lame duck session after the Nov. 2024 election tanked that legislation and others.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 26 July 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
See All Example Sentences for lame duck
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Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 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
Lansing was close to funding CVI last legislative session in 2023 to 2024, but a chaotic lame duck session after the Nov. 2024 election tanked that legislation and others.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 26 July 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
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 20 Aug. 2025.
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