pander

verb

pan·der | \ ˈpan-dər

pandered; pandering\ ˈpan-d(ə-)riŋ

Definition of pander

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

cadet [slang], fancy man, pimp, procurer

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

Johns also was indicted on two counts of pimping the girls, pandering procurement of a child for prostitution and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, all felonies. — Kieran Nicholson, The Denver Post, "Denver man sentenced to 24 years in prison for pimping two teens, two women," 28 June 2019 Some may have liked it, others may have seen it as pandering to the Miami audience. — Aric Chokey, sun-sentinel.com, "How did the Democratic candidates do in their first round of debates? We rated them.," 28 June 2019 Officials are seeking victims of human trafficking linked to a YouTube rapper from Los Angeles who was arrested last week on charges of pimping and pandering an Orange County woman. — Alexa Díaz, latimes.com, "YouTube rapper arrested in human trafficking case as police seek more victims," 17 June 2019 Romantic analogies aside, the wording throughout occasionally feels like pandering. — Nneka Mcguire, Dallas News, "Do millennial women really need the book 'How to Skimm Your Life'? Give us more credit," 25 June 2019 The creators were sort of pandering to the audience and kind of vamping in a way that poisoned the show and simplified it. — Jonny Auping, Longreads, "‘TV Has This Really Fraught Relationship with the Audience.’," 25 June 2019 Through marketing and advertising agency Moroch, the hamburger goliath managed to walk the tight-rope between pandering and authenticity and end up safely on the other side with nearly 100 percent praise and respect. — Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, "Idea behind McDonald's Houston-centric 'trill' and 'chopped and screwed' billboards," 21 June 2019 Many people working in tech have suggested that rather than hiring a truly diverse workforce, tech companies have resolved to deal with their diversity issues with lip service, pandering, and downright dishonesty. — Rani Molla, Vox, "Why women in tech are being Photoshopped in instead of hired," 17 June 2019 People should thank them for their unanimous vote in defense of SCC’s sanctuary policy, for exercising that leadership, and for resisting the seductive political expediency of pandering to fear and hate. — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, "Letter: Santa Clara County supervisors hailed for defending sanctuary policy," 8 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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, "A Reminiscence of Jony Ive’s Design Legacy," 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, "The Hidden Logic of Trump’s Staff Exodus," 14 Mar. 2018 More like a pander-stretch on a non-issue in an election year. — John Baer, Philly.com, "'The stretch,' politically speaking, by Trump, Stack, Wagner, Leach & others," 23 Jan. 2018 Rather than being greeted as an honest attempt to reach out to a voting group that overwhelmingly dislikes him, the taco bowl post was widely mocked as an obvious, ham-fisted pander. — Farhad Manjoo, New York Times, "Twitter, Trump’s Trusty Weapon, Could Backfire," 18 May 2016

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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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

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)