Word
pander
Phoneticspan·der, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpændɝ/
UK/pˈændɐ/
Definition
v. to say or do what people want just to please them, even when it is wrong or not helpful. You use it when someone tries to win support by telling people what they want to hear.
v. to gratify or indulge the desires, tastes, or prejudices of others, especially for personal or political advantage.
Examples
“Politicians sometimes pander to voters with big promises.”
“The manager panders to the client by agreeing to every request, even when the deadlines are impossible.”
“Rather than pander to popular fears about immigration, the editorial argued for a calm review of the economic evidence.”
Examples
simple
“Politicians sometimes pander to voters with big promises.”
contextual
“The manager panders to the client by agreeing to every request, even when the deadlines are impossible.”
complex
“Rather than pander to popular fears about immigration, the editorial argued for a calm review of the economic evidence.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “pander” in context.
Verb
01. attempt to pander
“He attempted to pander to the base with tough rhetoric.”
verb + to + verb
02. pander to audience
“He pandered to the audience with jokes instead of answering questions.”
verb + prep + noun
03. pander to base
“She pandered to her base instead of seeking broader consensus.”
verb + prep + noun
04. pander to electorate
“Candidates often pander to the electorate with tax cuts they cannot fund.”
verb + prep + noun
05. pander to fear
“Populists pander to fear to win votes quickly.”
verb + prep + noun
06. pander to prejudice
“The article panders to prejudice rather than presenting evidence.”
verb + prep + noun
07. pander to public
“The mayor pandered to the public rather than explaining the budget cuts.”
verb + prep + noun
08. refuse to pander
“She refused to pander to the crowd and lost their support.”
verb + to + verb
Adjective
09. blatantly pander
“The channel blatantly panders to its audience instead of reporting facts.”
adv + verb
10. cynically pander
“Politicians cynically pander to fear about immigration before elections.”
adv + verb
11. accused of pandering to prejudice
“The newspaper was accused of pandering to prejudice for higher sales.”
12. pander to the lowest instincts
“He was accused of pandering to the lowest instincts of voters.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and almost always takes 'to' before the person or group being pleased.
Pitfall
pander voters
pander to voters
Pander almost always takes 'to' before its object.
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Elizaveta Porodina The enormous crowds that Fontaines DC now command are not a result of pandering to the TikTok algorithm, though, even mid-lockdown.” Etymology
From Middle English pandare, from Chaucer’s character Pandare (in Troilus and Criseyde; see also Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida), from Italian Pandaro (found in Boccaccio), from Latin Pandarus (found in Greek mythology), from Ancient Greek Πάνδαρος (Pándaros).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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