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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of lightning rod

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lightning rod

That begs the question: How much responsibility does a filmmaker have to take a clear stance in their work, especially in a film that is overtly intended to be a lightning rod for heated debate?

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

“In other words, I have become the lightning rod for his complaints.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Palantir has become somewhat of a lightning rod in Europe.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Despite its humorous origins, the CJP group quickly became a lightning rod for India's disaffected young people.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Instead, Morrie had become a lightning rod of ideas.

From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom