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

Costco’s pork tenderloins come 4 to a pack at $3.19 per pound. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 15 June 2025

Pork tenderloin: Roasting, grilling, pan-searing, stir-frying, and stuffing and baking techniques can all be used for pork tenderloin. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Let Rest and Slice Transfer turkey tenderloins to a cutting board. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2024

Enjoy it on its own or serve it with an endless variety of mains including steak, chicken, shrimp, or pork tenderloin. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 May 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