pabulum

noun

pab·​u·​lum ˈpa-byə-ləm 

1

: food

especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption

Roots deliver pabulum to the plant.

2

: intellectual sustenance

pabulum for consideration and reflection

3

: something (such as writing or speech) that is insipid, simplistic, or bland

wrote pabulum that was intended to offend no one

Did you know?

Pabulum derives from the Latin term for "food" or "fodder" and was first used in English in the 17th century for anything taken in by plants or animals to maintain life and growth. Within 30 years of its first appearance in English texts, it was also being used to refer to things so intellectually stimulating or nourishing that they could be considered food for thought. But the word took on a whole new flavor in the 1930s when a team of Canadian doctors formulated a highly nutritious (but bland) baby cereal and named their product "Pablum" (based on the Latin word). As a result, the similar-looking "pabulum" did a linguistic about-face and is now often used for things that are bland and unstimulating as well as for things that are intellectually sustaining.

Synonyms

• aliment
• food
• nourishment
• sustenance

Examples of pabulum in a Sentence

we have reached a cultural low if reality television is regarded as pabulum for the masses

Recent Examples on the Web

This was culture as interchangeable primetime pabulum; three minutes apiece for the acts to impress the new judges and boost sales. —Mike McCahill, Variety, 8 May 2023

Twitter account, which spouted pabulum about the decency of the human spirit, became extremely popular. —New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021

Try to imagine Britain’s prime minister rallying his nation to fight the Nazi war machine armed with this progressive pabulum. —Joseph Loconte, National Review, 9 Sep. 2020

After quoting extensively from a Communist writer, Kengor dismisses the content of the quotation out of hand without making any argument: This, of course, is relativistic pabulum. —Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 3 Sep. 2020

His onscreen counterpart in the film adaptation of this story, Memoir of a Murderer, trades in this complexity for more standard antihero pabulum (his only desire is to keep Eunhui safe). —Alana Mohamed, The Atlantic, 11 June 2019

The pabulum that passes for most reviews is an insult to the intelligence of most readers. —Christian Lorentzen, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019

They are just being fed this pabulum of leftist ideology. —Fox News, 25 Apr. 2018

Direct pronouncements from him are so rare that even this pabulum was treated as push-alert-worthy news. —Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Latin, food, fodder; akin to Latin pascere to feed — more at food

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pabulum

• acetabulum

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Medical Definition

pabulum

noun

pab·​u·​lum ˈpab-yə-ləm 

: food

especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption