Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

tenderfoot

noun ten·der·foot \ ˈten-dər-ˌfu̇t \
|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of tenderfoot

plural tenderfeet play \ˈten-dər-ˌfēt\ also tenderfoots play \ˈten-dər-ˌfu̇ts\
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

See tenderfoot defined for English-language learners

See tenderfoot defined for kids

Examples of tenderfoot in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of tenderfoot from the Web

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.

First Known Use of tenderfoot

1849

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

tenderfoot Synonyms

Synonyms

apprentice, babe, beginner, colt, cub, fledgling, freshman, greenhorn, neophyte, newbie, newcomer, novice, novitiate, punk, recruit, rookie, tyro;

Antonyms

old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran;

Near Antonyms

expert, master, pro, professional;

Related Words

boot;

amateur, dabbler, dilettante;

learner, student, trainee;

candidate, entrant, probationer;

TENDERFOOT Defined for English Language Learners

tenderfoot

noun

Definition of tenderfoot for English Language Learners

  • : someone who has just started doing something

  • : a person who is not used to living in rough conditions or outdoors

Learn More about tenderfoot

  1. See words that rhyme with tenderfoot Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tenderfoot

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up tenderfoot? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

cerulean

play

resembling the blue of the sky

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

tenderfoot

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games