pandered; pandering
ˈpan-d(ə-)riŋ 
; panders
; panders
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
George Ochenski… used his brilliant gifts to pander to popular taste.—Hubert Saal
Hubert Saal… TV that panders to the worst in us.—Jill Parkin
Jill Parkin… a political chameleon trying to pander to voters …—Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith2
: to act as a pander (see pander entry 2 sense 2)
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
Josh Benson… is among the worst films of the year, a shameless pander for awards recognition …—Jason Bailey
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
Allison Hoffman2
a
: a go-between in love intrigues
b
: pimp
Examples of pander in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Apr. 2025
The opposition Conservative party has welcomed the move, while human rights NGOs have slammed it as pandering to the far-right and worsening the debate over immigration in the U.K.
The move had been trailed for several days by the government before being formally announced.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
But Lee, wise to how the heart stutters, didn’t pander to audiences with bromides like love is love.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The song, the first disco hit and an indelible gay anthem, here feels like a pandering cliche.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pander
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Verb
The courage to stop pandering to potential voters with pricey spending programs, the courage to own up to the inflation that caused, and the courage to pull back on further money drains like student loan forgiveness.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Apr. 2025
The opposition Conservative party has welcomed the move, while human rights NGOs have slammed it as pandering to the far-right and worsening the debate over immigration in the U.K.
The move had been trailed for several days by the government before being formally announced.
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
But Lee, wise to how the heart stutters, didn’t pander to audiences with bromides like love is love.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The song, the first disco hit and an indelible gay anthem, here feels like a pandering cliche.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pander
Cite this Entry
“Pander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pander. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
pander
1 of 2 transitive verb
pan·der
ˈpan-dər
: 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)
Dunigan Enterprises v. DA for the Northern District, 415 N.E.2d 251 (1981)
: to engage in pandering
counts included…conspiracy to pander and receive the earnings of a prostitute—State v. Tocco, 750 P.2d 874 (1988)
State 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)
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