third rail
noun
1
: a metal rail through which electric current is led to the motors of an electric vehicle (such as a subway car)
2
: a controversial issue usually avoided by politicians
Examples of third rail in a Sentence
Social Security is the third rail of American politics.
Recent Examples on the Web
The rising waters flooded the yard’s Substation No. 5, cutting off electrical power to the third rail.
—
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2024
The press is ultimately the third rail of objectivity.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2024
For the longest time, this was a complete third rail of an issue.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 11 June 2024
Is there maybe a sense that in pro sports’ determination to create commercial opportunities with casinos and legal sports books, players have been allowed to forget that betting on your own sport is the third rail of this industry?
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for third rail 
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2024
The press is ultimately the third rail of objectivity.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2024
For the longest time, this was a complete third rail of an issue.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 11 June 2024
Is there maybe a sense that in pro sports’ determination to create commercial opportunities with casinos and legal sports books, players have been allowed to forget that betting on your own sport is the third rail of this industry?
—Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for third rail
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'third rail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Third rail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third%20rail. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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