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

After which, steel tendons from Dywidag were passed into the ducts of the blocks, with anchorage provided at both ends. —Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026

Most notably, starting QB Daniel Jones ruptured his right Achilles tendon in early December, and his status for Week 1 in 2026 is unclear. —James Boyd, New York Times, 15 May 2026

The fans’ positivity offset the emotionally tough road back from left elbow surgery to fix a tear in Hernández’s tendon. —Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

Regular movement also helps keep your tendons, ligaments, and joints flexible and slows bone loss from conditions like osteoporosis. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 12 May 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