often attributive
1
: one that feeds: such as
a
: one that fattens livestock for slaughter
b
: a device or apparatus for supplying food
2
: one that eats or takes nourishment
especially
: an animal being fattened or one suitable for fattening
3
a
: one that supplies, replenishes, or connects
c
: a heavy wire conductor supplying electricity at some point of an electric distribution system (as from a substation)
d
: branch
especially
: a branch transportation line
e
: a road that provides access to a major artery
Examples of feeder in a Sentence
a pigeon feeder holding a bag of stale bread
the lake has several feeders that have their headwaters near the Canadian border
Recent Examples on the Web
Refilling your hummingbird feeder with Perky-Pet is as easy as pouring yourself a glass of water.
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
Annual tuition for the Yale School of Art currently stands at just under $50,200—a tough barrier to clear for most aspiring artists looking to attend a program that still acts as a feeder for many New York institutions and galleries.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Placed among your beds and borders, a bottle feeder becomes a small wildlife sanctuary, attracting the birds that keep your garden ecosystem humming.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Give Them Another Food Source Angi also recommends installing a suet feeder to distract the birds from your home and give them a new source of food.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feeder
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2026
Annual tuition for the Yale School of Art currently stands at just under $50,200—a tough barrier to clear for most aspiring artists looking to attend a program that still acts as a feeder for many New York institutions and galleries.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Placed among your beds and borders, a bottle feeder becomes a small wildlife sanctuary, attracting the birds that keep your garden ecosystem humming.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Give Them Another Food Source Angi also recommends installing a suet feeder to distract the birds from your home and give them a new source of food.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for feeder
Cite this Entry
“Feeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feeder. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
feeder
noun
feed·er
ˈfēd-ər 
1
: a device for supplying food
bird feeder
b
: a branch (as of a river or a transportation system) that supplies or connects to another
2
: one that eats
especially
: an animal being fattened or suitable for fattening
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