Definition
A person who caters to or exploits the weaknesses, vices, or base desires of others for profit or personal gain; one who procures clients for prostitutes or facilitates immoral or illegal activities.
Example Usage
Critics accused the politician of being a panderer, willing to promise anything to the highest bidder regardless of conviction.
Origin
From Pandarus, a character in Troilus and Criseyde by Chaucer, who acted as a go-between for lovers; the term evolved from a proper name to a common noun describing an intermediary in vice.
Fun Fact
Though Pandarus himself wasn't a pimp in the original works, his role as facilitator became so associated with illicit dealings that his name transformed into a common word for moral compromise.
Related Terms
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See “Panderer” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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