tenderloin
noun
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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
Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
Place it on the stovetop to steam fish, shallow-fry chicken cutlets, and sauté winter vegetables, or toss it in the oven to roast a pork tenderloin or bake fruit cobbler.
—Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025
The lunch and dinner menus offer steaks, a flamed tenderloin and a tomahawk pork chop, along with affordable lunch sandwiches and burgers.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Nov. 2025
This year Busch's has new side dishes and a new holiday beef tenderloin meal.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenderloin
Cite this Entry
“Tenderloin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderloin. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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tenderloin
noun
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