noun Uncommon

fodder

FO-duh

Fodder (noun) means Food, such as hay or grain, given to livestock like cattle and horses. Example: “The farmer stored fodder in the barn for winter.”

noun

Food, such as hay or grain, given to livestock like cattle and horses.

"The farmer stored fodder in the barn for winter."

Raw material that feeds or fuels something, especially gossip, satire, or discussion.

"The scandal became fodder for late-night comedy shows."

"His awkward speech was easy fodder for critics."

People treated as expendable or of little individual value, especially in the phrase "cannon fodder."

"The soldiers felt like cannon fodder in a war they didn't understand."

How to use fodder

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFeed for animals, or (figuratively) raw material that gets used up, especially for jokes, gossip, or as expendable people.

Common pairings

cannon fodder fodder for gossip animal fodder

Word forms

foddered past tense, fodders plural, fodders singular

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The farmer stored _____ in the barn for winter.

Etymology

From Old English fōdor, related to the word "food" and going back to an ancient root meaning "to feed" or "to graze."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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fresh fish cannon fodder

Frequently asked questions

What does “fodder” mean?

The word “fodder” means food, such as hay or grain, given to livestock like cattle and horses. In plain terms, feed for animals, or (figuratively) raw material that gets used up, especially for jokes, gossip, or as expendable people.

How do you pronounce “fodder”?

“Fodder” is pronounced FO-duh (/ˈfɑdɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “fodder” in a sentence?

Here is “fodder” used in a sentence: “The farmer stored fodder in the barn for winter.”

What part of speech is “fodder”?

“Fodder” is a noun.

Where does the word “fodder” come from?

The word “fodder” comes from Old English. From Old English fōdor, related to the word "food" and going back to an ancient root meaning "to feed" or "to graze.".

Is “fodder” a common word?

“Fodder” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “fodder” have?

“Fodder” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: food, such as hay or grain, given to livestock like cattle and horses.