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

These muscles include your pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis and flexor-pronator mass that are attached by tendons to the medial epicondyle of your humerus. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

The path back from April 2025 elbow surgery hit a snag when he was diagnosed with a flexor tendon strain in late April that shut him down for weeks. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Calf problems can lead to more serious injuries, such as a torn Achilles tendon. —Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Strong muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the knee help reduce strain on the joint and improve overall stability. —Jakob Roze, Health, 18 June 2026

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