pander

verb

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pan·der | \ ˈpan-dər

pandered; pandering\ ˈpan-d(ə-)riŋ

Definition of pander

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to act as a pander especially : to provide gratification for others' desires films that pander to the basest emotions … used his brilliant gifts to pander to popular taste. — Hubert Saal

pander

noun

Definition of pander (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a go-between in love intrigues

b : pimp

2 : someone who caters to or exploits the weaknesses of others

Other Words from pander Synonyms Distinctive Meanings of Procure More Example Sentences Learn More About pander

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Synonyms for pander

Synonyms: Noun

Distinctive Meanings of Procure

Procure, like many other English words, has a split personality. On the one hand, it may carry a perfectly benign meaning, such as "to obtain" (“she procured supplies”) or "to bring about" (“the settlement was successfully procured”). On the other hand, it has long been used in the specific sense of obtaining someone for, or bringing about, sexually promiscuous purposes. In this regard it is similar to the word pander, which entered the English language with the innocent meaning “a go-between in love intrigues” (the word comes from the name Pandare, a character in Chaucer’s poem Troilus and Criseyde who facilitates the affair between the titular characters), and soon after took on the meaning “pimp.”

Examples of pander in a Sentence

Noun an arrest record that revealed that he had variously been a pander, a pickpocket, and a drug dealer

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But these characters uniformly bemoan the gutting of France’s social safety net and the hypocrisy of leftist politicians who pander to the élite. — Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 19 May 2021 All in the service of a dangerous lie, that the 2020 election was stolen, and to pander to the Trump-worshipping cult that comprises the base of today’s Republican Party. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2021 But so far, nothing about 60+ suggests the show is trying to pander to younger eyeballs. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2021 Let our two major parties learn not to pander to the outlandish fringe voices because those are the very ones that sow the seeds of division. — Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2021 The challenge is an irresistible opportunity to pander to President Trump and — more importantly — to his most zealous followers, who will be a powerful force in Republican primary elections in 2022 and 2024. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2021 Joukhadar, who is trans himself, doesn't try to pander to the reader's experience but focuses instead on Nadir's gender identity struggle. — Delfina V Barbiero, USA TODAY, 24 Nov. 2020 What became the New School for Social Research only a year later would not emphasize degrees or Latin or pander to youth or privilege. — Ginia Bellafante, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2020 Ever since then, the movies have struggled to balance the desire to pander to fan nostalgia with the need for coherent forward progress. — al, 30 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Critics say this is a pander to Donald Trump, but Trump lost in 2020 under either standard. — Star Tribune, 2 June 2021 Critics say this is a pander to Donald Trump, but Mr. Trump lost in 2020 under either standard. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 31 May 2021 But of course showbiz politics won the day — and persisted through the presidencies of Democrats too, notably pander-bear Bill Clinton and dashing Barack Obama. — Virginia Heffernan Los Angeles Times, Star Tribune, 23 Apr. 2021 Unlike Trump, Napoleon did not deny the plague, pander false cures, or ignore the suffering around him. — Robert Klitzman, STAT, 25 June 2020 The giant pander-fest that is the Democratic primary is just getting started. — Michael Tanner, National Review, 28 Aug. 2019 Its initial emphasis on high fashion—and the pander to the one-percent with the five-figure versions—seemed a bit tone-deaf. — Steven Levy, WIRED, 27 June 2019 Trump announced his steel and aluminum tariffs in the campaign’s final days, the most microtargeted pander to Rust Belt voters imaginable. — Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 14 Mar. 2018 More like a pander-stretch on a non-issue in an election year. — John Baer, Philly.com, 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pander.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

29 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Pander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pander. Accessed 20 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for pander

pander

verb

English Language Learners Definition of pander

disapproving : to do or provide what someone wants or demands even though it is not proper, good, or reasonable

See the full definition for pander in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pander

transitive verb

pan·der | \ ˈpan-dər

Legal Definition of pander

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to sell or distribute by pandering had no protected right to pander prurient materials — Dunigan Enterprises v. DA for the Northern District, 415 N.E.2d 251 (1981)

intransitive verb

: to engage in pandering counts included…conspiracy to pander and receive the earnings of a prostitute — State v. Tocco, 750 P.2d 874 (1988)

pander

noun

Legal Definition of pander (Entry 2 of 2)

: one who engages in pandering : panderer