Definition

Noun: 1. An elected official still in office but not slated to continue: A person, especially a politician, who is in a period of remaining time in office after losing an election or after not being eligible for re-election, and therefore has diminished power and influence.

Usage

This term is used to describe the status and reduced effectiveness of an official whose successor has already been chosen or whose term limit has been reached. It often implies a lack of political power to enact new policies.

Examples

• The president, having lost the November election, became a lame duck for the final three months of his term.
• The city council ignored the mayor's proposals during his lame duck period.
• Critics argued that the outgoing governor's lame duck appointments should be reviewed by the new administration.

Advanced Usage

• "Lame duck session": A legislative session that occurs after an election but before the new officials take office. Laws passed during this time may be seen as controversial.
  • The controversial bill was pushed through during a lame duck session of Congress.

Variants and Related Words

• Lame-duck (adjective): Used to describe the status or period itself.
  • The senator's lame-duck tenure was marked by inaction.

Synonyms

• Outgoing official
• Careaker official (in some contexts, though this implies a temporary, neutral role rather than a diminished one)

Related Idioms & Phrases

• "Lame duck presidency/administration": Specifically refers to the period at the end of a U.S. president's final term.
  • The historical analysis focused on the policy shifts during the lame duck presidency.

Noun

1. an elected official still in office but not slated to continue