tenderloin

noun

ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin 

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

Prioritize the prime cuts — backstraps and tenderloins — by trimming them and packaging them first. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 28 Aug. 2025

Slice tenderloins crosswise on the diagonal. —Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025

Filet mignon is a tender cut of beef that is sliced near the smaller end of a beef tenderloin. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Technically, chicken tenders come from the small strip of meat located just beneath the breast, which is the tenderloin. —Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tenderloin

• phenytoin
• adjoin
• benzoin
• bitcoin
• conjoin
• enjoin
• fibroin
• rejoin
• sirloin
• subjoin
• coin
• coyne

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Kids Definition

tenderloin

noun

ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin 

: a strip of tender meat (as beef or pork) on each side of the backbone