ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tender

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈtɛndɝ// UK //tˈɛndɐ// ten·der Archaic Formal

n. a formal offer to do a job or provide goods for a specific price. Companies or governments use this process to find the best person for a project.

n. a formal written offer to supply goods or services at a fixed price, typically submitted in response to an invitation from a government or large organisation. Often used in the context of competitive bidding processes.


SIMPLE

The construction company submitted a tender for the new bridge project.

CONTEXTUAL

The city council invited local firms to submit a tender for the renovation of the historic library.

COMPLEX

After reviewing every competitive tender, the board selected the contractor who offered the most comprehensive safety plan alongside a realistic budget, rather than simply choosing the lowest bidder.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English tender, tendere, from Anglo-Norman tender, Old French tendre, from Latin tener, tenerum (“soft, delicate”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English tender, tendur, tendir, tendre, from the adjective (see above).

Etymology 3

From Middle English tendren, from the adjective (see above).

Etymology 4

From tend + -er. Compare attender (“one who attends”).

Etymology 5

From Middle English tendren, from Old French tendre (“stretch out”).

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'submit', 'invite', or 'put out to'.

Pitfall

the company made a tenderthe company submitted a tenderIn a professional context, 'submit' or 'lodge' are the standard collocations for this noun, rather than the generic 'make'.

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