tendon

noun

ten·​don ˈten-dən 

: a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part (such as a bone) and transmits the force which the muscle exerts

Examples of tendon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If there’s any such thing as a lottery for people with torn Achilles tendons, Lillard has won it. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 July 2025

Correll Buckhalter, a Philadelphia Eagles running back, tore his right tendon in 2004 and again in 2005. —Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

The discussion then turned to Simmons, who suffered a patellar tendon injury last season at Ohio State. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025

His injury also reopened discussion about why so many NBA players are tearing their Achilles tendons. —Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin tendōn-, tendō, probably derivative of Latin tendere "to extend outward, stretch" after Greek tenont-, ténōn "sinew, tendon," from ten-, variant stem of teínein "to stretch, extend" + -ont-, -ōn, deverbal noun suffix — more at tender entry 3

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tendon

• Achilles tendon
• tendon of Achilles

Kids Definition

tendon

noun

ten·​don ˈten-dən 

: a tough cord or band of dense white connective tissue that links a muscle to some other part (as a bone)

Medical Definition

tendon

noun

ten·​don ˈten-dən 

: a tough cord or band of dense white fibrous connective tissue that unites a muscle with some other part, transmits the force which the muscle exerts, and is continuous with the connective-tissue epimysium and perimysium of the muscle and when inserted into a bone with the periosteum of the bone