ClimateJuly 27, 2026

albatross

AL-buh-tros

Definition

A metaphorical burden or obstacle that is persistent, inescapable, and causes one to feel weighed down.

Etymology

Derived from the Portuguese 'alcatraz', the word was influenced by the Latin 'albus' (white) because of the bird's appearance; it gained its metaphorical meaning from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', where a killed bird is hung around the sailor's neck as a symbol of guilt.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe a policy that may become a significant, unavoidable burden for an administration, ultimately hindering their political success.

Backsliding on Climate Could Cost Not Only Elections But Lives

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Institute for Policy Studies

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