pandering: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Critical
Quick answer
What does “pandering” mean?
Gratifying or indulging a person's baser desires or prejudices, especially to gain favour or popularity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Gratifying or indulging a person's baser desires or prejudices, especially to gain favour or popularity.
The act of catering to the desires or weaknesses of others, typically in a servile or manipulative manner for personal, political, or commercial gain. It implies a lack of integrity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The verb 'pander' is slightly more formal in British English.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “pandering” in a Sentence
pander to somebody/somethingbe accused of pandering to XVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pandering” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The politician was accused of pandering to nationalist sentiment.
- The newspaper panders to its readers' fears.
American English
- The mayor pandered to big donors during the campaign.
- That show just panders to the audience's worst instincts.
adverb
British English
- He spoke panderingly to the crowd, promising them the impossible.
American English
- The host smiled panderingly at his wealthy guests.
adjective
British English
- His pandering speech was met with scorn by serious commentators.
- We need policies, not pandering gestures.
American English
- The film's pandering finale ruined its artistic integrity.
- The senator's pandering tweet went viral.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe marketing that cynically exploits trends.
Academic
Used in political science, media studies, and sociology to critique populism or media bias.
Everyday
Used in discussions about politics, celebrities, or media behaviour.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pandering”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pandering”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pandering”
- Using it with 'for' (e.g., 'pandering for votes') instead of the correct 'to' (pandering to voters).
- Confusing it with 'pondering' (thinking).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it carries a negative connotation of manipulation and lack of principle.
The verb 'pander' is always followed by 'to' (e.g., pander to voters).
It comes from the character Pandarus in Chaucer's 'Troilus and Criseyde', who acted as a go-between for the lovers. His name became synonymous with a 'pimp' or 'procurer', which evolved into the modern meaning of catering to base desires.
Almost never. Even if the desires being catered to are benign, the word implies a cynical or servile motivation.
Gratifying or indulging a person's baser desires or prejudices, especially to gain favour or popularity.
Pandering is usually formal, critical in register.
Pandering: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpændərɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpændərɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pandering to the gallery”
- “pandering to the lowest common denominator”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PANDA being offered bamboo to do tricks—it's being indulged to perform. 'PANDERING' is indulging someone's desires to get them to act a certain way.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS/COMMERCE IS PROSTITUTION (from the original 'pander' meaning 'pimp').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes 'pandering'?