tenderloin

noun ten·der·loin \ ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

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

[from its making possible a luxurious diet for a corrupt police officer]

: a district of a city largely devoted to vice

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Recent Examples of tenderloin from the Web

But the key players are the steaks themselves, including a bone-in tenderloin that can be served Oscar style with lump crab and asparagus and a 22-ounce rib-eye steak with meltaway fat that’s among the best in San Antonio.

— San Antonio Express-News, "T10018 Rest Myron's Prime Steakhouse," 8 Mar. 2018
Those gathered snacked on risotto cakes, beef tenderloin carpaccio, and deviled quail eggs or queued up for old fashioneds, sidecars, or gin and tonic libations.

— amber elliott, Houston Chronicle, "Slim Thug and Houston's party people toast LOUIS XIII Cognac and Pharrell Williams' song "100 Years"," 5 Mar. 2018
Menu options range from the popular burgers to sushi to elk tenderloin.

— susan selasky and detroit free press staff, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Auto Show: Fuel up at more than 25 nearby bars and restaurants," 20 Jan. 2018
Pre-Prepped Pork Tenderloin Canapés Mysteriously prepared pork tenderloin, whiskey caramelized onions, baguette, room-temperature butter, salt.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Everything Antoni Porowski ‘Cooks’ on Queer Eye," 6 Mar. 2018
Ready in just 30 minutes, this warming dish is filled with chunks of pork tenderloin, Gala apples, red potatoes and carrots peppered with dried thyme, honey and Dijon mustard.

— woman's day kitchen, Woman's Day, "Braised Pork and Apple Stew," 30 Sep. 2013
But that would mean missing out on a spirited lineup of main courses including a terrific take on braciola — better known as involtini in Italy — featuring thin tenderloin rolled around a core of pine nuts, raisins and cheese.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Luce Ristorante e Enoteca," 8 Mar. 2018
The sauce also works well with pork tenderloin and salmon.

— terri milligan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Al Johnson's brings the restaurant's products to your home, but its famous goats stay back in Door County," 30 Jan. 2018
Good toppings, including rare tenderloin and red pepper pesto, but the base is a thin, crackery bread rather than a lovely pizza crust.

— polly campbell, Cincinnati.com, "Matt the Miller's Tavern: Right down the middle," 25 Jan. 2018

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.

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.