fodder

[ fod-er ]

noun

1. coarse food for livestock, composed of entire plants, including leaves, stalks, and grain, of such forages as corn and sorghum.
2. people considered as readily available and of little value:

   cannon fodder.

3. raw material:

   fodder for a comedian's routine.

verb (used with object)

1. to feed with or as if with fodder.

fodder

/ ˈfɒdə /

noun

1. bulk feed for livestock, esp hay, straw, etc
2. raw experience or material

   fodder for the imagination

verb

1. tr to supply (livestock) with fodder

Word History and Origins

Origin of fodder¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fodder, fōdor; cognate with German Futter; akin to food

Word History and Origins

Origin of fodder¹

Old English fōdor ; related to Old Norse fōthr , Old High German fuotar ; see food , forage

Synonym Study

See feed.

Example Sentences

That gig, editing a social work journal on the campus of Cal State Long Beach, provided fodder for her newest role: hospital executive director Joyce in the NBC mockumentary sitcom “St. Denis Medical,” premiering Tuesday with two episodes.

From Los Angeles Times

We have the fodder for the significant continuation of political violence.

From Los Angeles Times

Abbott’s press release provided fodder for Republicans warning that noncitizens could vote in large numbers and sway the election, though experts say such instances are exceedingly rare.

From Salon

Now Kim is sending North Korean troops—many of them elite Special Forces—to augment the ill-equipped men that Russian commanders have hurled into combat like cannon fodder.

From Slate

Carlson's fantasies of vigorously spanking the body politic by a harsh but loving patriarch provided even more fodder for that line of attack, with journalist Aaron Rupar describing the remarks as "the most overtly fascist thing I've seen at any Trump rally."

From Salon

Related Words

• barley
• corn
• food
• forage
• grain
• hay