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

Oliver Park’s directorial debut is based on the Jewish folktale about the female demon Abyzou, which (believe it or not) happens to be perfect fodder for a horror film set at a Hasidic funeral home in Brooklyn. —Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2025

And how reading in public became meme fodder. —Christian Orozco, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025

Both Cincinnati's mayor and city manager have scrutinized the performance of Police Chief Teresa Theetge after the city once again became fodder in the national conversation about crime. —Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Oct. 2025

The Ed Gein Story, the latest Netflix Monster season from creators Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy, treats Gein’s (Charlie Hunnam) victims primarily as fodder for his arts-and-crafts projects. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 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