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

Collagen helps your body regenerate connective tissue, which includes your tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Aug. 2025

Neither the tendon nor the muscle got any bigger, and the maximum calf strength didn’t change. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 11 Aug. 2025

Blakely was a frontrunner to make the 2024 Olympic team until tearing her Achilles tendon while training at the Olympic Trials. —Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Your feet are remarkable structures containing 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. —Dana Santas, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 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