fodder

noun

fod·​der ˈfä-dər 

1

: something fed to domestic animals

especially : coarse food for cattle, horses, or sheep

2

: inferior or readily available material used to supply a heavy demand

fodder for tabloids

This sort of breezy plot line has become cheap fodder for novelists and screenwriters …

—Sally Bedell

fodder transitive verb

Examples of fodder in a Sentence

His antics always make good fodder for the gossip columnists.

She often used her friends' problems as fodder for her novels.

Recent Examples on the Web

The trees not only provide shade for the coffee but also medicine, firewood, and animal fodder, and act as live fences for livestock. —Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

And Bates has provided plenty of fodder for his teammates. —Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

And if history continues to repeat itself, the Panthers will continue to look like first-half fodder to their opponents over the next several weeks. —Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fōdor; akin to Old High German fuotar food — more at food

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fodder

• cannon fodder

Rhymes for fodder

• broader
• dodder
• odder
• solder
• marauder

Kids Definition

fodder

noun

fod·​der ˈfäd-ər 

: coarse dry food (as cornstalks) for livestock