fodder

noun

fod·​der ˈfä-dər How to pronounce fodder (audio)
Synonyms of fodder
1
: something fed to domestic animals
especially : coarse food for cattle, horses, or sheep
2
: inferior or readily available material used to supply a heavy demand
fodder for tabloids
This sort of breezy plot line has become cheap fodder for novelists and screenwriters …—Sally Bedell
fodder transitive verb

Examples of fodder in a Sentence

His antics always make good fodder for the gossip columnists. She often used her friends' problems as fodder for her novels.
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.
Both Henderson and Dominguez have pointed fingers at Biggs for using their records as campaign fodder. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 On-air, of course, viewers would have no clue (Buck and Aikman have continued to deliver a broadcast worthy of their decamillion-dollar contracts), but the dispute has become fodder, and Aikman has not been willing to shy away from discussing it. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026 The outdoor-apparel companies, by sponsoring athletes and films and catalogue shoots, converted derring-do into marketing fodder for developers and Realtors. — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 The proverbial competition between him and Chris Brown was constant fodder among R&B fans. — Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fodder

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fōdor; akin to Old High German fuotar food — more at food

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fodder was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing fodder

Rhymes for fodder

See All Rhymes for fodder

Browse Nearby Words

FOD
fodder
fodder beet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fodder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fodder. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fodder

noun
fod·​der ˈfäd-ər How to pronounce fodder (audio)
: coarse dry food (as cornstalks) for livestock

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