pander

1 of 2

verb

pan·​der ˈpan-dər How to pronounce pander (audio)
pandered; pandering ˈpan-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce pander (audio) ; panders

intransitive verb

1
: to say, do, or provide what someone (such as an audience) wants or demands even though it is not good, proper, reasonable, etc.
… ignores doing the right thing … in favor of pandering for votes. George Ochenski
… used his brilliant gifts to pander to popular taste.Hubert Saal
… TV that panders to the worst in us.Jill Parkin
… a political chameleon trying to pander to voters …Cameron Smith
2
: to act as a pander (see pander entry 2 sense 2)
panderer noun
plural panderers

pander

2 of 2

noun

plural panders
1
a
: the act or an instance of pandering (see pander entry 1 sense 1)
Calling congressional leaders babies … is a pander to public opinion rather than an attempt to inform or lead it.Josh Benson
… is among the worst films of the year, a shameless pander for awards recognition …Jason Bailey
b
: someone who panders (see pander entry 1 sense 1)
… his primary goal is self promotion. He is a political pander.Allison Hoffman
2
a
: a go-between in love intrigues
b
: pimp

Examples of pander in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Zegler claimed that the live action version will be more in-keeping with modern times which caused an uproar with critics claiming that Disney is pandering to woke audiences. Caroline Reid, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 There’s no skirting around politics and with the majority of American voters pandering to a presidential candidate pushing for more conservative values this election, the body has become weaponized for power and control. Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024 Read: The post-liberal Catholics find their man So far, politicians haven’t had much reason to pander to the child-free; the group has been too fractured to be called a voting bloc. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024 On a day when buzzy indie rock stars like Bakar sang karaoke with no band, and everyone pandered to this overrated city with fashion, Simpson just let that thang talk. Ramon Ramirez, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pander 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

derivative of pander entry 2

Noun

Middle English Pandare pandarus

First Known Use

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pander was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pander

Cite this Entry

“Pander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pander. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pander

noun
pan·​der
ˈpan-dər
variants or panderer
-dər-ər
: one who takes advantage of or profits from the weaknesses and mean desires of others
pander verb

Legal Definition

pander

1 of 2 transitive verb
pan·​der ˈpan-dər How to pronounce pander (audio)
: to sell or distribute by pandering
had no protected right to pander prurient materialsDunigan 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 prostituteState v. Tocco, 750 P.2d 874 (1988)

pander

2 of 2 noun
: one who engages in pandering : panderer
Etymology

Noun

Middle English Pandare, character who procured for Troilus the love of Cressida in Troilus and Creseyde, poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1342–1400)

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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