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

ˈlām-ˈdək 

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

Playing for a lame duck head coach who was fired at the end of the season. —Juston Lewis, Florida Times-Union, 8 Jan. 2026

After the midterm elections are over, the focus gradually shifts to the next presidential election, and the incumbent president increasingly limps like a lame duck. —Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026

While Mike Kafka is a lame duck coach in his final game, Brian Schottenheimer is determined to build momentum heading into the next season. —Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026

This is about an attempt by the Democrats to make President Trump a lame duck president. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lame duck

• thunderstruck
• amok
• amuck
• awestruck
• dumbstruck
• potluck
• roebuck
• unstuck
• woodchuck
• chuck
• cluck
• huck

Kids Definition

lame duck

noun

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