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
To avoid collisions with glass, feeders should be placed either more than 30 feet or less than 3 feet, from house windows or fixed to a window itself.
—
George Petras, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Fertilize Regularly Planting peppers in a rich potting mix is always a good start, but peppers are heavy feeders that usually need supplemental fertilizer throughout the growing season to grow and fruit abundantly.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Dec. 2025
Another option is to have multiple feeders to attract them.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Obviously a hummingbird isn’t going to try to eat a walnut, and a pelican isn’t going to try to sip from a nectar feeder.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feeder
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George Petras, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Fertilize Regularly Planting peppers in a rich potting mix is always a good start, but peppers are heavy feeders that usually need supplemental fertilizer throughout the growing season to grow and fruit abundantly.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Dec. 2025
Another option is to have multiple feeders to attract them.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025
Obviously a hummingbird isn’t going to try to eat a walnut, and a pelican isn’t going to try to sip from a nectar feeder.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feeder
Cite this Entry
“Feeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feeder. Accessed 5 Jan. 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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