lame
laym
Lame (adj) means Unable to walk normally because of an injury or problem with the legs or feet. Example: “The lame dog limped slowly along the path beside its owner.”
adj
1
Unable to walk normally because of an injury or problem with the legs or feet.
"The lame dog limped slowly along the path beside its owner."
"After the fall from the ladder, he was lame for several weeks."
"The horse went lame after stepping in a hole."
2
Weak, unconvincing, or poorly thought out.
"Her argument was lame, and nobody in the meeting was convinced by it."
"I gave a lame answer because I hadn't prepared for the interview."
"That's a pretty lame excuse for being late."
3
Informally, boring, uncool, or disappointing.
"My friends said the film was lame, so we switched it off halfway."
"It's a bit lame to stay in on a Saturday night, isn't it?"
"He thought the party was lame and left early."
How to use lame
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnable to walk properly, or (informally) weak, unconvincing, or just plain uncool.
When to use it
The "uncool/boring" sense is informal slang; avoid it in formal writing, and be aware some people find using "lame" to mean "bad" insensitive given its literal disability meaning.
Common pairings
lame excuse
go lame
that's so lame
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Word forms
- Plural
- lames
- Third person singular
- lames
- Past tense
- lamed
- Comparative
- lamer
- Superlative
- lamest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ dog limped slowly along the path beside its owner.
Etymology
From Old English lama ("lame"), a Germanic word originally meaning "broken" or "weakened."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lame
See all rhymes for lame →Frequently asked questions
What does “lame” mean?
The word “lame” means unable to walk normally because of an injury or problem with the legs or feet. In plain terms, unable to walk properly, or (informally) weak, unconvincing, or just plain uncool.
How do you pronounce “lame”?
“Lame” is pronounced laym (/leɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “lame” in a sentence?
Here is “lame” used in a sentence: “The horse went lame after stepping in a hole.”
What part of speech is “lame”?
“Lame” is an adjective.
Where does the word “lame” come from?
The word “lame” comes from Old English. From Old English lama ("lame"), a Germanic word originally meaning "broken" or "weakened.".
Is “lame” a common word?
“Lame” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “lame” have?
“Lame” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unable to walk normally because of an injury or problem with the legs or feet.
What is the difference between "lame" and "limping"?
"Lame" is an adjective describing a lasting inability to walk normally because of injury to the legs or feet, while "limping" is the action of walking unevenly and is often temporary. A person or animal that is lame will usually limp.
Is it offensive to call a person "lame"?
Using "lame" to describe a person's physical disability is now widely considered outdated and insensitive, and wording such as "has a mobility impairment" is preferred. The informal sense meaning "boring" or "uncool" is casual slang and is unrelated to disability.
What is the difference between the literal and slang meanings of "lame"?
Literally, "lame" means unable to walk normally, or, of an argument, weak and unconvincing. In informal slang it means boring, uncool, or disappointing, as in "a lame party" or "a lame excuse."
What are common collocations with "lame"?
Frequent pairings include "lame excuse," "lame joke," and "lame duck." A "lame duck" refers to an official, especially a politician, whose term is ending and who therefore has reduced influence.
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