Definitions

lame duck

[leym duhk] / ˈleɪm ˈdʌk /

NOUN

elected official waiting to leave office

Synonyms

WEAK

crumbling power holdover incumbent loser weak administration weakling

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He’s also a lame duck and getting lamer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The historical record here may show that being a lame duck insulates a Fed chair from political pressures.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

"I'm not sure he's a lame duck yet," Garret Martin, professor of international relations at American University, told AFP.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

They just hired their fourth manager in five years and gave him a one-year contract, which makes him a lame duck before he ever manages a game.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

I was the lame duck of the foursome.

From Torchy As A Pa by Ford, Sewell