fodder

UK: /ˈfɒdə^r/ US: /ˈfɑdɚ/ ,(fod′ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fod•der /ˈfɑdɚ/   n. [uncountable]

1. coarse food for livestock.
2. raw material:
   Mothers-in-law are often fodder for comedy routines.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fod•der  (fod′ər), n. 

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.

v.t. 

4. to feed with or as if with fodder.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English fodder, fōdor; cognate with German Futter; akin to food

Synonyms

• 1. See feed. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fodder / ˈfɒdə/ noun

1. bulk feed for livestock, esp hay, straw, etc

verb

1. (transitive) to supply (livestock) with fodder

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