tendon
Americannoun
-
Anatomy. a cord or band of dense, tough, inelastic, white, fibrous tissue, serving to connect a muscle with a bone or part; sinew.
-
a reinforcing strand in prestressed concrete.
noun
Etymology
Origin of tendon
1535–45; < Medieval Latin tendōn- (stem of tendō ) < Greek ténōn sinew (spelling with -d- by association with Latin tendere to stretch)
Compare meaning
How does tendon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you feel the back of your ankle, you will find the tough, ropelike tendon that joins your calf muscle to your heel bone. That's the job of tendons throughout your body: connecting bone and muscle so you can move. Consider that the Latin word tendere means "to stretch." That's an apt beginning for the word tendon, a tough but stretchy fibrous tissue (sinew). A tendon is made of dense bundles of fibrous collagen that form ropelike connectors that allow muscles and bones to work together. Athletes often suffer injuries to tendons, most often to the rotator cuff in the shoulder, the Achilles tendon in the leg, the patellar tendon in the knee, and the biceps muscle in the arm.
Vocabulary lists containing tendon
Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Divergent
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fans’ positivity offset the emotionally tough road back from left elbow surgery to fix a tear in Hernández’s tendon.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
When O’Malley repaired Durant’s tendon back in 2019, Durant had the benefit of a long road back to recovery.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
The 28-year-old finished third in 2024 but, after placing fourth at the marathon in the Paris Olympics, was also forced to miss last year's race in London because of an ankle tendon issue.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
He suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March 2025 and underwent back surgery last October.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
I dig a beetle larva out of a decaying log and put it on a thornbush fishhook I made and tied to a fine cord of deer tendon.
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
