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.
Usually taking place about halfway through the season, the trips almost always include all the cast members, creating the perfect conditions for friendships to be tested—and providing plenty of fodder for the rest of the season. — Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026 His entries have become fodder for his critics about his self-promotion. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Several were reluctant to criticize Fauci in any way, on the theory that doing so would only give more fodder to his right-wing critics. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 The former top-50 recruit became social media fodder for playing at four high schools in four years before eventually signing with Georgia. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 24 July 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 5 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on fodder

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fodder

Nglish: Translation of fodder for Spanish Speakers

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