1 provender | Definition of provender
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provender

noun
prov·​en·​der | \ ˈprä-vÉ™n-dÉ™r How to pronounce provender (audio) \

Definition of provender

1 : dry food for domestic animals : feed
2 : food, victuals
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about provender

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Synonyms for provender

Synonyms

bread, chow, chuck [chiefly West], comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, food, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provisions, table, tucker [chiefly Australian], viands, victuals, vittles

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Did You Know?

When English speakers first chewed on the word provender around 1300, it referred to a stipend that a clergyman received from his cathedral or collegiate church, something also known as a prebend. A mere 25 years later, though, the word’s current meanings had developed. These days you’re most likely to encounter provender in articles written by food and travel writers. A few such writers confuse provender with purveyor, meaning "a person or business that sells or provides something," but most of them keep the words straight, as Deidre Schipani does in this quote: "The kitchen remains true to its local roots. Buying from island farmers, fisherman, shrimpers, butchers and small local artisans keeps the provender and purveyors in alignment." (The Post and Courier, September 3, 2009)

Examples of provender in a Sentence

a chef who prides himself on creating all of his dishes from local provender

Recent Examples on the Web

 This, combined with a burgeoning demand for local provender on the part of city restaurants, fertilized a revival of small-scale agriculture in the region. — Bryan Miller, Town & Country, "The Hudson Valley: A River Runs Through It," 8 Sep. 2013

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'provender.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of provender

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for provender

Middle English, from Anglo-French provende, provendre, from Medieval Latin provenda, alteration of praebenda prebend

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