tenderloin

noun

ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin 

1

: a strip of tender meat consisting of a large internal muscle of the loin on each side of the vertebral column

2

[from its making possible a luxurious diet for a corrupt police officer] : a district of a city largely devoted to vice

Did you know?

A tenderloin, of course, is a juicy and tasty cut of meat. In the late 19th century, however, Tenderloin saw use as a nickname for the neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, west of Broadway and below 42nd Street. This district, which contained numerous bordellos, gambling houses, and watering holes, alongside theaters and hotels, became a hotbed of corruption - and, it was alleged by some, blackmail by police. The notion of dishonest law enforcers being able to afford a nice meal off activity in this district is believed to have given the Tenderloin its name. Soon the term was applied to similarly seedy districts in other cities.

Examples of tenderloin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trick is to sit back, enjoy the views, and allow the chefs to do their magic with every cut—from tenderloin to tongue, cheek, tail, and all. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Sieger’s overly grey dish had dry tenderloin, and his carrot BBQ sauce was oddly flavored and too thick. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026

When buying filet mignon or beef tenderloin steaks, look for cuts with even edges and a thickness of about 1 to 2 inches. —Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026

Use it to top pork tenderloin sandwiches, burgers, and biscuits. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tenderloin

• phenytoin
• adjoin
• benzoin
• bitcoin
• conjoin
• enjoin
• fibroin
• rejoin
• sirloin
• subjoin
• coin
• coyne

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Kids Definition

tenderloin

noun

ten·​der·​loin ˈten-dər-ˌlȯin 

: a strip of tender meat (as beef or pork) on each side of the backbone