fodder

noun

fod·​der ˈfä-dər 

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

In this sense, Spielberg’s use of delay became fodder for anticipatory anxiety. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

The couple became tabloid fodder when the publisher and Calvin Klein publicist met at his fitting for the brand in 1992. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 17 June 2025

Everything’s Going to Be Great suggests that all of this is destined to become fodder, someday, for Les’ brilliant creative career. —Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025

And the credits are already becoming fodder for political attacks. —Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 12 June 2025

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

Phrases Containing fodder

• cannon fodder

Rhymes for fodder

• broader
• dodder
• odder
• solder
• marauder

Kids Definition

fodder

noun

fod·​der ˈfäd-ər 

: coarse dry food (as cornstalks) for livestock