tenderfoot

noun

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ten·der·foot | \ ˈten-dər-ˌfu̇t

plural tenderfeet\ ˈten-dər-ˌfēt

\ also tenderfoots\ ˈten-dər-ˌfu̇ts

Definition of tenderfoot

1 : an inexperienced beginner : novice a political tenderfoot

2 : a newcomer in a comparatively rough or newly settled region especially : one not hardened to frontier or outdoor life

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Examples of tenderfoot in a Sentence

skateboarders who are tenderfeet will inevitably fall as they learn their first moves

Recent Examples on the Web Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp. — The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020 But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere. — Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020 Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward College: Undecided Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record. — USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020 But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019 The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding. — Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tenderfoot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.