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

This move sparked internet fodder, with many onlookers saying LoRosa brought professionalism to the role that Moore didn’t. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 19 Mar. 2025

Sheep, pigs, and cattle grazed under the trees and harvested their own fodder—a practice known as silvopasture, derived from Latin and meaning forest feeding. —Ben Seal, JSTOR Daily, 19 Mar. 2025

The debate over whether Favre took a dive in 2001 has generated much fodder over the years. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Mar. 2025

There were headlines and talk-show fodder for weeks and weeks to come. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 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