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

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch tore his left Achilles tendon against the Dallas Cowboys, according to a person familiar with the situation. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

The tendon that’s the stuff of myths The calcaneal tendon was named the Achilles in 1693 by Flemish anatomist Philip Verheyen as a reference to the mythological Greek hero, whose only vulnerable spot was his heel. —Matt Villano, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025

He was expected to play more this year, but a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his season in March. —Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

Overall, the addition of artificial tendons boosted the system’s power-to-weight ratio by 11x, meaning far less muscle was needed to achieve far greater output. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 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