cannon fodder

American  

noun

1. soldiers, especially infantrymen, who run the greatest risk of being wounded or killed in warfare.

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cannon fodder British  

noun

1. men regarded as expendable because they are part of a huge army

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Etymology

Origin of cannon fodder

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

The team that was set to be Eastern Conference cannon fodder is now in second place, putting the Celtics right where they’re used to being: the thick of a championship race.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

Students in about 90 cities across the country took part in a school strike on 5 December in protest against the move, with some using the slogan "Don't end up as cannon fodder".

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

So you are on the side of Mario, not Donkey Kong; the lone gunslinger, not the cannon fodder in the hallways.

From New York Times • Mar. 13, 2023

“If they need more cannon fodder, that is what they’ll be doing,” he said.

From Washington Times • Nov. 13, 2022

The wily Austro-Hungarians regarded the Serbs as cannon fodder in the attrition war against the Russians and the Turks.

From Terrorists and Freedom Fighters by Vaknin, Samuel