lightning rod

American  

noun

1. a rodlike conductor installed to divert lightning away from a structure by providing a direct path to the ground.

2. a person or thing that attracts and absorbs powerful and especially negative or hostile feelings, opinions, etc., thereby diverting such feelings from other targets.

   The unpopular supervisor served as a lightning rod for the criticism that should have been aimed at management.

---

lightning rod Scientific  

1. A grounded metal rod placed high on a structure to conduct electrical current from a lightning strike directly to the ground, preventing the currents from injuring people or animals or from damaging objects. Lightning rods usually have a sharp, pointed tip, since electric lines of force are more highly concentrated around pointed objects, in this case increasing the attractiveness of the rod compared with other nearby objects.

2. See also Saint Elmo's fire

---

Etymology

Origin of lightning rod

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

A two-term congressman whose father served for 10 years on Capitol Hill, Collins has been a lightning rod for controversy since arriving in Washington.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

Even the U.S. delegation has become a particular lightning rod this round.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Her name was Concha and she was kind of this lightning rod.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

The ending, which I won’t spoil here, has become a lightning rod of controversy that cannot be destroyed, no matter how much acrimonious electricity it attracts.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

His shovel smoked as he raised it above his head like a lightning rod and used it to direct the bolts.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda