pandered; pandering
ˈpan-d(ə-)riŋ 
; panders
; panders
1
to say, do, or provide what someone (such as an audience) wants or demands even though it is not good, proper, reasonable, etc.
… ignores doing the right thing … in favor of pandering for votes.—
George Ochenski
—usually used with toGeorge Ochenski… used his brilliant gifts to pander to popular taste.—Hubert Saal
Hubert Saal… TV that panders to the worst in us.—Jill Parkin
Jill Parkin… a political chameleon trying to pander to voters …—Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith2
: to act as a pander (see pander entry 2 sense 2)
plural panders
1
a
: the act or an instance of pandering (see pander entry 1 sense 1)
Calling congressional leaders babies … is a pander to public opinion rather than an attempt to inform or lead it.—Josh Benson
Josh Benson… is among the worst films of the year, a shameless pander for awards recognition …—Jason Bailey
Jason Bailey
b
: someone who panders (see pander entry 1 sense 1)
… his primary goal is self promotion. He is a political pander.—Allison Hoffman
Allison Hoffman2
a
: a go-between in love intrigues
b
: pimp
Examples of pander in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors said Floyd was also convicted of pimping a minor older than 16 years old, two counts of taking the girl’s money from prostitution and two counts of pandering by encouraging the prostitution.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
For him, this means refusing to court TikTok personalities, to pander to trends, or to tie his star to a viral moment or an It bag.
—Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
Lewis Wedlock, a social psychologist specializing in masculinities, notes that the term is especially cutting when a man uses it to refer to another man, which can imply disdain for his authenticity and his submission in pandering to women.
—Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pander
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Verb
The biggest mistake that girls make when going into the interview portion of the pageant, Alverson says, is wasting their interview time on unnecessary, pandering statements.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Prosecutors said Floyd was also convicted of pimping a minor older than 16 years old, two counts of taking the girl’s money from prostitution and two counts of pandering by encouraging the prostitution.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
For him, this means refusing to court TikTok personalities, to pander to trends, or to tie his star to a viral moment or an It bag.
—Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
Lewis Wedlock, a social psychologist specializing in masculinities, notes that the term is especially cutting when a man uses it to refer to another man, which can imply disdain for his authenticity and his submission in pandering to women.
—Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pander
Cite this Entry
“Pander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pander. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
pander
1 of 2 transitive verb
pan·der
ˈpan-dər
: to sell or distribute by pandering
had no protected right to pander prurient materials—Dunigan Enterprises v. DA for the Northern District, 415 N.E.2d 251 (1981)
Dunigan Enterprises v. DA for the Northern District, 415 N.E.2d 251 (1981)
: to engage in pandering
counts included…conspiracy to pander and receive the earnings of a prostitute—State v. Tocco, 750 P.2d 874 (1988)
State v. Tocco, 750 P.2d 874 (1988)pander
2 of 2 noun
: one who engages in pandering : panderer
Etymology
Noun
Middle English Pandare, character who procured for Troilus the love of Cressida in Troilus and Creseyde, poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1342–1400)
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