tenet
Tenet (noun) means a principle or belief held to be true by a person or, more often, by a group, religion or movement. Example: “Non-violence is a central tenet of the faith.”
How to use tenet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA core belief that a group holds to be true.
Formal and usually plural. Most often applied to religions, philosophies, political movements and professional disciplines rather than to one person's opinions.
A tenet is a belief; a tenant is a person who rents a property. The two are pronounced almost identically, so proofread carefully.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Non-violence is a central _____ of the faith.
Etymology
From Latin tenet 'he holds', from tenere 'to hold'.
Related words
Rhymes for tenet
See all rhymes for tenet →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between tenet and tenant?
A tenet is a principle or belief held by a group. A tenant is a person who rents a home or premises from a landlord. They sound nearly the same but share no meaning, and writing 'a central tenant of the theory' is a common error.
What is the difference between a tenet and a doctrine?
A tenet is a single principle within a belief system. A doctrine is usually the whole formal body of teaching, or an officially adopted policy. A doctrine can be made up of several tenets.
What is the meaning of tenet?
"tenet" (noun) means a principle or belief held to be true by a person or, more often, by a group, religion or movement.
What is another word for tenet?
Other words for "tenet" include principle, doctrine, belief, precept, creed.