Jump to:

• lame
  lame

  adjective

  physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty.
• lamé
  lamé

  noun

  an ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

lame

¹ American  

[leym] / leɪm /

adjective

lamer, lamest

1. physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty.

   a lame racehorse.

2. impaired or disabled through defect or injury.

   a lame arm.

3. weak; inadequate; unsatisfactory; clumsy.

   a lame excuse.

4. Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. awkward, dull, stupid, or uninteresting.

5. Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. out of touch with modern fads or trends; unsophisticated.

---

verb (used with object)

lamed, laming

1. to make lame or defective.

noun

1. Slang: Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a person who is out of touch with modern fads or trends, especially one who is unsophisticated.

lame ² American  

[leym, lam] / leɪm, lam /

noun

Armor.

plural

lames

1. any of a number of thin, overlapping plates composing a piece of plate armor, as a fauld, tasset, or gauntlet.

---

lamé ³ American  

[lah-mey, la-, la-mey] / lɑˈmeɪ, læ-, laˈmeɪ /

noun

1. an ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

---

lame ¹ British  

/ leɪm /

adjective

1. disabled or crippled in the legs or feet

2. painful or weak

   a lame back

3. weak; unconvincing

   a lame excuse

4. not effective or enthusiastic

   a lame try

5. slang conventional or uninspiring

---

verb

1. (tr) to make lame

lamé ² British  

/ ˈlɑːmeɪ /

noun

1. 1. a fabric of silk, cotton, or wool interwoven with threads of metal

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gold lamé gown

---

lame ³ British  

/ leɪm /

noun

1. one of the overlapping metal plates used in armour after about 1330; splint

---

Sensitive Note

Many speakers do not recognize or consider the connection between the medical and slang senses of lame . Nevertheless, using a term associated with injury or disability as a general insult is sometimes perceived as insensitive to or by people with disabilities.

Other Word Forms

• lamely
  adverb
• lameness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of lame¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (adjective and verb); Old English lama (adjective); cognate with Dutch lam, German lahm, Old Norse lami; akin to Lithuanian lúomas

Origin of lame²

1580–90; < Middle French < Latin lāmina a thin piece or plate

Origin of lamé³

1920–25; < French, equivalent to lame lame ² + -é < Latin -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

You might describe a limping dog that's lost the use of one of its legs as lame, which means "disabled in a leg or foot." It's less common than describing injured animals as lame, but sometimes you'll hear the word lame used to describe a limping person too. This usage is generally considered to be outdated or inappropriate. Lame is probably most often used to mean generally weak or pathetic — but many people consider this usage to be offensive as well.

Example Sentences

The audience also cheered TikTok star Khaby Lame, tennis great Maria Sharapova and an Olympics-style parade of tech founders bearing their nations' flags.

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

Senegalese influencer Khaby Lame took pocket watch finery to stunning heights.

From Salon • May 6, 2025

Because the ramp was in front of the “Oppenheimer” cast and crew, many of its winners, including editor Jennifer Lame, hopped up the ramp awkwardly before giving their speeches.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2024

A post on social media site X, formerly Twitter, by Ms Lame recently highlighted how she advocated for 4am licenses for two Soho venues, Here and The Lower Third.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2023

Lame songs about mountains and clouds and rainbows, my uncle said.

From "Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson

Related Words

• feeble
• flimsy
• ineffective
• weak