Definition

1. Verb:

   • To gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or person): To provide what someone wants, especially something unreasonable or unacceptable, often to gain favor.
   • To act as a pimp; to procure a sexual partner for someone.

2. Noun:

   • A pimp; a person who arranges sexual encounters for others, especially for payment.

Usage

• Verb (most common usage): The verb "pander" is almost always used with the preposition "to" (pander to). It describes the act of catering to someone's base desires or weaknesses.
• Noun (less common): The noun form refers specifically to a pimp or procurer.

Examples

• Verb:

  • The politician was accused of pandering to popular fears instead of offering real solutions.
  • That newspaper just panders to people's prejudices.
  • He refused to pander to the audience's demand for sensationalism.

• Noun:

  • He was arrested for working as a pander. (Note: "pimp" is far more common in modern usage for this meaning.)

Advanced Usage

• "Pandering" (Gerund/Noun): The act of gratifying base desires.
  • The film was criticized for its blatant pandering to the lowest common denominator.

Variants and Related Words

• Panderer (n): A person who panders.
  • He was seen as a mere panderer to the wealthy elite.

Synonyms

• Cater to: To provide what is desired or required by (someone).
• Indulge: To allow (someone) to have or do something they want, especially when it is not good for them.
• Gratify: To give (someone) pleasure or satisfaction.
• Procure (specifically for the noun/sexual meaning): To obtain (someone) as a prostitute for another person.

Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Pander to: This is the standard and primary construction for the verb.
  • The new policy seems to pander to special interest groups.

Idioms / Fixed Phrases

• No common idioms specifically use "pander." Its meaning is carried in the phrase "pander to."

Noun

1. someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce)

Verb

1. arrange for sexual partners for others
2. yield (to); give satisfaction to