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

In addition to Crosby, the Raiders added defensive tackle Leki Fotu and guard Dylan Parham to the injury report on Thursday with heel and Achilles tendon injuries, respectively. —Josh Buckhalter, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Collagen is a protein that makes up the structure of your hair, skin, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and internal organs. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Nov. 2025

Their study zeroed in on a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), a type of protein, that can regenerate a finger joint complete with articular cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025

Propst figured some tendons were bitten in two. —John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 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