Word
tenet
US/ˈtɛnət/
UK/tˈɛnɪt/
Definition
n. a basic belief or principle that a person or group holds to be true. It is a core idea that does not change, even when other things around it do.
n. a fundamental principle or belief held by a person, group, or organization. Often used in the plural to describe the core doctrines of a philosophy or religion.
Examples
“One of the main tenets of the new law is fairness.”
“The company's core tenets include environmental responsibility and the ethical treatment of all employees.”
“While the specific applications of the theory have evolved over time, its foundational tenets regarding human nature remain largely unchanged since its inception in the nineteenth century.”
Examples
simple
“One of the main tenets of the new law is fairness.”
contextual
“The company's core tenets include environmental responsibility and the ethical treatment of all employees.”
complex
“While the specific applications of the theory have evolved over time, its foundational tenets regarding human nature remain largely unchanged since its inception in the nineteenth century.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tenet” in context.
Adjective
01. fundamental tenet
“A fundamental tenet of democracy is the right to free speech and assembly.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“They believed, in other words, that faith and human reason were complementary and that human reason could be used to prove the tenets of the Christian religion.” “The Freemasons claim to allow access to anyone who follows its tenets.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin tenet (“he, she, or it holds”), from teneō (“hold; have”). Compare obsolete tenent. See tenable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The word in film
Tenet · 2020 · Sci-Fi
- Directed by:
- Christopher Nolan
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Robert Pattinson, Kenneth Branagh
Christopher Nolan directs this science fiction thriller about a secret agent who must prevent a global disaster. The title describes the core principle or code that the characters follow as they manipulate the flow of time to save the world.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/tenet