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.

So there may not be any significant surprises from the Fed on Wednesday, especially now that Powell is essentially a lame duck.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

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

Are these the actions of a lame duck, or of a leader who continues to wield great power?

From Salon • Dec. 2, 2025

But when all was said and done, it boiled down to the same old lame duck of an excuse that was yet the simple and shameful truth.

From Blue Aloes Stories of South Africa by Stockley, Cynthia