noun
General Slang
cannon fodder
KAN-un FOD-er · noun · informal
Troops treated as expendable in battle.
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Definitions
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Soldiers, historically infantry, sent into battle with the expectation that they will be killed — regarded by commanders as expendable.
“They were sent forward as cannon fodder to draw fire.”
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cannon fodder In A Sentence
They were sent forward as cannon fodder to draw fire.
Origin & Usage
Longstanding military term, used in the US and widely elsewhere.
People Also Ask
What does 'cannon fodder' mean?
Soldiers treated as expendable — sent into battle with little regard for whether they survive.
Is 'cannon fodder' only about soldiers?
Originally yes, but it's now used figuratively for anyone or anything sacrificed for a larger goal, like players thrown into a losing effort.
Where does 'cannon fodder' come from?
It's a longstanding military expression, evoking troops used up like ammunition ('fodder') fed to the cannons.
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