tenderloin

noun

ten·der·loin | \ ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin

Definition of tenderloin

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? Example Sentences Learn More about tenderloin

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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

One place gives you a free beer with your tenderloin. — Liz Biro, Indianapolis Star, "These are the best Indianapolis food and drink events in July," 29 June 2018 Choose from a tenderloin, ($45), ribeye ($54) or New York strip ($50). — Audrey Gorden, RedEye Chicago, "DIY and dine: 10 build-your-own, customizable foods in Chicago," 20 Sep. 2017 Pour 2 teaspoons of olive oil in pan and place tenderloins in skillet. — House Beautiful, "Carla Hall's BBQ Pork Tenderloin with Beet, Carrot & Cabbage Slaw with Spicy Lemon Vinaigrette," 20 July 2012 Pork Tenderloin Sandwich No bucket list would be complete without tasting a real Hoosier tenderloin. — Sarah Bahr, Indianapolis Star, "Ultimate Indiana bucket list: 50+ things to do in Indianapolis and around the state," 11 July 2018 Cover the bowl, refrigerate it overnight, and serve with the roast tenderloin. — Alex Hitz, House Beautiful, "Perfect Roast Tenderloin of Beef with Horseradish Sauce," 17 Oct. 2014 Inside a Kennedy-era federal courthouse on a squalid block of San Francisco’s tenderloin, agents and prosecutors were using the U.S. Justice Department’s subpoena power, technical know-how and budget to arrive at the same place as Mr. Nilsson. — Bradley Hope, WSJ, "The Man Who Solved Bitcoin’s Most Notorious Heist," 10 Aug. 2018 Foods that taste good at room temperature include: roasted or smoked meat, a turkey, ham or tenderloin. — Rima Suqi, WSJ, "Holiday Entertaining Tips From the Party Planner to Presidents," 16 Nov. 2018 This succulent pork tenderloin makes a show-stopping Christmas dish. — Fox News, "16 decadent Christmas main dishes," 16 Dec. 2015

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