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
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
The political divide has become so wide and entrenched that everything is fodder for dimwitted outrage.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
However, what started as a viral internet moment became fodder for the celebrity rumor mill when Carpenter was seen attending Djo’s set during the second ACL weekend, with one anonymous source telling DeuxMoi that the Girl Meets World star passed them on her way backstage.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Oct. 2025
Tabloid fodder surrounding the 73-year-old’s relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson has given way to mockery over the 2-3 Tar Heels’ lopsided losses to TCU (48-14), UCF (34-9) and Clemson (38-10).
—The Athletic Colleges Staff, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Debates don’t always change the trajectory of the race, but candidates — particularly weeks out from an election — can benefit from a standout moment, which could offer fodder for late advertising, too.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fodder
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Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
However, what started as a viral internet moment became fodder for the celebrity rumor mill when Carpenter was seen attending Djo’s set during the second ACL weekend, with one anonymous source telling DeuxMoi that the Girl Meets World star passed them on her way backstage.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 Oct. 2025
Tabloid fodder surrounding the 73-year-old’s relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson has given way to mockery over the 2-3 Tar Heels’ lopsided losses to TCU (48-14), UCF (34-9) and Clemson (38-10).
—The Athletic Colleges Staff, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Debates don’t always change the trajectory of the race, but candidates — particularly weeks out from an election — can benefit from a standout moment, which could offer fodder for late advertising, too.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fodder
Cite this Entry
“Fodder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fodder. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fodder
noun
fod·der
ˈfäd-ər 
: coarse dry food (as cornstalks) for livestock
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