for lack of

idiom

: not having (the thing specified)
They called it a comet, for lack of a better term/word.
For lack of anything better to do, we went to the park.

Examples of for lack of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That conviction was overturned for lack of evidence by the state appeals court in January. Colleen Slevin, Twin Cities, 22 Apr. 2025 Two German teens were denied entry to the U.S. in Honolulu for lack of lodging confirmation. Zach Wichter, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025 Other food distribution programs have shut down for lack of supplies, and the U.N. and other aid groups have been sending their remaining stocks to the charity kitchens. Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025 The blue shirt guy, for lack of a better term, landed a few haymakers that could be heard clearly on video. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for for lack of

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“For lack of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/for%20lack%20of. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!