tenderloin

noun

ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin How to pronounce tenderloin (audio)
1
: a strip of tender meat consisting of a large internal muscle of the loin on each side of the vertebral column
2
[from its making possible a luxurious diet for a corrupt police officer] : a district of a city largely devoted to vice

Did you know?

A tenderloin, of course, is a juicy and tasty cut of meat. In the late 19th century, however, Tenderloin saw use as a nickname for the neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, west of Broadway and below 42nd Street. This district, which contained numerous bordellos, gambling houses, and watering holes, alongside theaters and hotels, became a hotbed of corruption - and, it was alleged by some, blackmail by police. The notion of dishonest law enforcers being able to afford a nice meal off activity in this district is believed to have given the Tenderloin its name. Soon the term was applied to similarly seedy districts in other cities.

Examples of tenderloin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Corn dogs, pork chops on a stick, gyros and tenderloins made it to our third round. Axios Des Moines, Axios, 7 Aug. 2024 Add sheet pan to oven. SHOPPING LIST: To buy: 3/4 pound pork tenderloin, 1 bottle balsamic vinegar, 1 jar whole grain mustard. Tribune News Service, The Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2024 The choicest cuts from any animal are going to be the tenderloins, which the chef shows you how to remove here. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 15 Oct. 2024 The dish features finely hand-cut beef tenderloin mixed with umami flavors and subtle hints of spices and herbs that are surprisingly light to the palate. Taryn White, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tenderloin 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenderloin was circa 1828

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near tenderloin

Cite this Entry

“Tenderloin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderloin. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

tenderloin

noun
ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin How to pronounce tenderloin (audio)
: a strip of tender meat (as beef or pork) on each side of the backbone
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!