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

Once in the public domain, these works become fodder for remakes, spinoffs and other adaptations. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 26 Dec. 2024

His many travails make the perfect fodder for National Geographic's riveting three-part documentary about Thompson's spectacular rise and precipitous fall: Cursed Gold: A Shipwreck Scandal, based on a 1998 book by Gary Kinder. —Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024

Unfortunately, this would result in Ziggler becoming fodder for multiple up-and-coming WWE Superstars. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

City officials have declared the project application was incomplete — which the developer denies — and the issue could become fodder for state intervention or lawsuits. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

fodder

noun

fod·​der ˈfäd-ər 

: coarse dry food (as cornstalks) for livestock