tenderloin

noun

ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin How to pronounce tenderloin (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 Epic Wings will be taking over the former Breakfast Republic space near the Village Green at the shopping center, serving up original style Buffalo wings and chicken tenderloin strips to be dunked in a variety of sauces, along with fries, pizza sticks and salads. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025 Remove pork tenderloin from refrigerator; let stand 30-45 minutes to come up to room temperature. Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025 The catch of the day is always a great choice and the Wagyu tenderloin is another favorite. Sherrie Nachman, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tenderloin

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenderloin was circa 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Tenderloin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderloin. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

tenderloin

noun
ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin How to pronounce tenderloin (audio)
: a strip of tender meat (as beef or pork) on each side of the backbone

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