tenet

noun

te·​net ˈte-nət 

 also  ˈtē-nət

: a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true

especially : one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession

Did you know?

Tenet holds a centuries-long tenure in the English language, but its hometown is Latin. In that language, tenet is a form of the verb tenēre ("to hold") and means "s/he holds." Tenet was borrowed into English around 1600, probably because of use of the word in Latin writings to introduce text giving a principle or doctrine held by a person or group, such as a particular church or sect. The word’s English use today seems clearly linked: "a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true, and especially one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession." Note that the similar-sounding word tenant is also from tenēre; it arrived in the 1300s and typically refers today to someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc., from a landlord. (Be careful not to use tenant where you want tenet.) Tenure is a tenēre descendant too.

Did you know?

Tenets vs. Tenants

Thanks to its confusingly similar pronunciation, tenant (“occupant, land-holder”) is sometimes erroneously used in place of tenet (“principle, doctrine”). Consider this example:

One of the ancient tenants of the Buddist [sic] belief is, “He who sits still, wins” –Police, January/February 1968

You will probably never make the opposite mistake (that is, substitute tenet for tenant), but if you think you might, remember that tenant and occupant both end in -ant.

Examples of tenet in a Sentence

the central tenets of a religion

one of the basic tenets of the fashion industry

Recent Examples on the Web

The central tenet of competitive authoritarianism, though, is that an autocrat, even one who has already stacked the deck, can still lose. —Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

Indeed, compassion was one of Pope Francis’ core tenets. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2025

The sprawling effort encompasses any protest guided by four tenets, according to Dunne. —Emma Bowman, NPR, 19 Apr. 2025

Every other protection against tyranny and political oppression — that is, every aspect of a stable democratic system — suffers a possibly mortal blow if the basic tenets of an independent judiciary and the adversarial advocacy of lawyers are abandoned or lost. —Michael McAuliffe, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "(s/he) holds," 3rd person singular present tense of tenēre "to hold, possess" — more at tenant entry 1

Note: Probably from the use of tenet in Latin texts as the opening verb in the statement of a principle or doctrine held by the person or body in question; cf. tenent (Latin, "they hold") used in the 16th to 18th centuries in the same sense.

First Known Use

circa 1620, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tenet

• bennet
• crenate
• jennet
• rennet
• senat
• senate

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Kids Definition

tenet

noun

te·​net ˈten-ət 

: a widely held belief

especially : one held in common by members of a group or profession