tenderloin
noun
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
Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2025
Roast in oven, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until internal temperature reads 145 degrees in the thickest part of the tenderloin.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025
The main course selections included beef tenderloin, lemon sole and poached chicken.
—Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
The restaurant’s menu offerings include lomo saltado, a traditional beef tenderloin dish, and arroz del Pacifico Sur, a Peruvian-style paella.
—Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenderloin
Cite this Entry
“Tenderloin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderloin. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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tenderloin
noun
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