tenet

noun

te·​net ˈte-nət 

 also  ˈtē-nət

: a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true

especially : one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession

Did you know?

Tenet holds a centuries-long tenure in the English language, but its hometown is Latin. In that language, tenet is a form of the verb tenēre ("to hold") and means "s/he holds." Tenet was borrowed into English around 1600, probably because of use of the word in Latin writings to introduce text giving a principle or doctrine held by a person or group, such as a particular church or sect. The word’s English use today seems clearly linked: "a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true, and especially one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession." Note that the similar-sounding word tenant is also from tenēre; it arrived in the 1300s and typically refers today to someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc., from a landlord. (Be careful not to use tenant where you want tenet.) Tenure is a tenēre descendant too.

Did you know?

Tenets vs. Tenants

Thanks to its confusingly similar pronunciation, tenant (“occupant, land-holder”) is sometimes erroneously used in place of tenet (“principle, doctrine”). Consider this example:

One of the ancient tenants of the Buddist [sic] belief is, “He who sits still, wins” –Police, January/February 1968

You will probably never make the opposite mistake (that is, substitute tenet for tenant), but if you think you might, remember that tenant and occupant both end in -ant.

Examples of tenet in a Sentence

the central tenets of a religion

one of the basic tenets of the fashion industry

Recent Examples on the Web

Although that will be unappealing in the coming administration, some tenets of conservative internationalism would serve Trump’s objectives in cost-effective and politically achievable ways. —Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024

Music - whether one performs it, unwinds to it, or uses it to bring their community together - happens after a place is developed and has infrastructure rather than a core tenet of the infrastructure itself. —Shain Shapiro, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

One other policy area that is top of mind for millions of Americans is immigration, one of Trump's central campaign tenets. —Erin Doherty, Axios, 29 Oct. 2024

Oil and gas production BP’s latest results come shortly after reports emerged the company scrapped its pledge to reduce oil and gas production by 2030, rolling back a core tenet of the firm’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions by the middle of the century — or sooner. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "(s/he) holds," 3rd person singular present tense of tenēre "to hold, possess" — more at tenant entry 1

Note: Probably from the use of tenet in Latin texts as the opening verb in the statement of a principle or doctrine held by the person or body in question; cf. tenent (Latin, "they hold") used in the 16th to 18th centuries in the same sense.

First Known Use

circa 1620, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

tenet

noun

te·​net ˈten-ət 

: a widely held belief

especially : one held in common by members of a group or profession