tenderloin

American  

[ten-der-loin] / ˈtɛn dərˌlɔɪn /

noun

• tenderloins
  plural

1. (in beef or pork) the tender meat of the muscle running through the sirloin and terminating before the ribs.

2. a cut of beef lying between the sirloin and ribs.

3. (initial capital letter)

   1. (formerly) a district in New York City noted for corruption and vice: so called because police there could eat well from their bribes.

   2. a similar district in any U.S. city.

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tenderloin British  

/ ˈtɛndəˌlɔɪn /

noun

1. a tender cut of pork or other meat from between the sirloin and ribs

2. a district of a city that is particularly noted for vice and corruption

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tenderloins
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tenderloin

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; tender ¹ + loin

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tenderloin tenderloins

A special “Chef’s Table” meal featured pumpkin and ginger soup, a duo of rock lobster and beef tenderloin, and a carrot panna cotta dessert, Moraes posted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

I enjoyed the signature burger at the Polaris lounge in San Francisco much more than my beef tenderloin in the sky.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

I hard-seared the thick boneless pork chops from this bundle — which also includes a shoulder, St. Louis ribs, and a tenderloin — almost like a steak, and wow.

From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025

After graduating in 2011, he debuted the Ooo-We! sauce, a “sweet, spicy, saucy glaze” that he said pairs well with everything from eggs to pork tenderloin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2025

The cook, placed upon her mettle, served a delicious repast—a luscious tenderloin broiled à point.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Or a simple salad with almonds and watercress or a garlic-strawberry sauce that’s great on pork tenderloins and grilled chicken.

From Salon ● May 23, 2025

After the outstanding performance, the researchers measured the biosensor's practicality using pork tenderloins purchased from a supermarket.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 20, 2024

“For the food, serve a few pork tenderloins instead of a big beef cut. It’s delicious, easy to cook and very cost-efficient,” said Ms. Hannon, who owns a kitchen boutique shop.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 20, 2022

The concept is as simple as it is effective: Hunters bring their excess harvest to one of seven participating butcher shops, where the deer are dressed and frozen into roasts, steaks, tenderloins and ground meat.

From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2021

The tenderloins, when sewed up, will resume their original shape.

From A Course of Lectures on the Principles of Domestic Economy and Cookery by Juliet Corson

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