tenet

[ten-it, tee-nit]

noun

1. any opinion, principle, doctrine, dogma, etc., especially one held as true by members of a profession, group, or movement.

   Synonyms: position, belief

tenet

/ ˈtiːnɪt, ˈtɛnɪt /

noun

1. a belief, opinion, or dogma

Pronunciation Note

The word tenet is often mispronounced as , with an extra /n/ sound in the second syllable—exactly like the word tenant (meaning someone who rents and occupies an apartment, office, etc.). It is a mistake made by people across a wide range of educational backgrounds, because it is such a natural one to make: English has thousands of words that end in the unstressed syllable -ant or -ent, such as parent, accident, potent, and relevant. Moreover, the two sounds at the end of all these words—/n/ and /t/—are very easily made together because we pronounce them with the tongue in the same place, touching the upper palate (or roof) of the mouth. The almost identical-sounding and common word tenant makes it all too easy for the extra /n/ to creep into the second syllable of tenet. Another word that is liable to be mispronounced in a similar way, with an extra /n/ in the second syllable, is pundit. No doubt the first /n/ in both tenet and pundit also influences their mispronunciation. And in pundit, the /d/ sound is another one made in the same place as both /n/ and /t/. Talk about piling on!

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenet¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin: “he holds,” 3rd person singular present indicative of tenēre “to hold”; tenant ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenet¹

C17: from Latin, literally: he (it) holds, from tenēre to hold

Example Sentences

While sharing similar tenets like low-slung horizontality, natural materials and warm informality, some incorporate elements of Colonial or Spanish architecture, others take on a bit of Swiss Chalet.

From Los Angeles Times

So what are the fundamental tenets of Britishness - a concept itself some would contest - under which a multicultural, multilingual, multireligious collection of nations such as the UK could agree on?

From BBC

At the time they released a statement which called on church leaders who had strayed from what they called "tenets of orthodoxy" to repent.

From BBC

It’s why the tight end has been a critical tenet of his Riley’s offense since he started as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator in 2015.

From Los Angeles Times

The panel said Kwan's actions "breached a fundamental tenet of the profession", which is that doctors "should act with integrity and within the law".

From BBC

Related Words

• assumption 
• credo 
• creed 
• doctrine 
• dogma 
• faith 
• precept 
• presumption 
• teaching