What does tender mean?
Tender is a versatile English word that can describe a gentle or affectionate person, a soft texture, sensitive skin, a delicate situation, or a relatively low price. “A tender heart” and “tender feelings” emphasize compassion and emotional openness, while “tender meat,” “tender skin,” and “a tender spot” draw on ideas of softness and sensitivity. As a verb, tender means to offer something for consideration, as in tendering a proposal, payment, or resignation. As a noun, a tender is a formal offer or bid, often submitted in response to a request for proposals; the word can also denote a small boat or vehicle that services a larger one. The adjective is familiar in everyday speech, whereas the commercial and legal senses are more formal. Together, these meanings make tender useful for expressing both physical delicacy and emotional warmth.
Gentle, affectionate, delicate, sensitive, or requiring care and caution; also, of prices or sums, relatively low in amount.
"The teacher was tender with the students who were struggling."
In emotional contexts, tender often implies affectionate or compassionate concern. In physical contexts, it can mean soft, fragile, or sensitive.
To offer or present something, such as a payment, proposal, or resignation, for consideration; also, to care for or attend to someone or something.
"The applicant tendered her resignation on Friday."
The formal offer-or-present sense is common in legal and commercial writing; the care-for sense is less common and somewhat formal or dated.
A formal offer or bid, especially one submitted in response to a request for proposals; also, a small boat or vehicle used to supply and service a larger one.
"The company submitted a tender for the construction contract."
The offer-or-bid sense is primarily used in legal, procurement, and business contexts.
The plural is used for multiple formal offers, bids, or submissions, and for multiple small service boats or vehicles.
"The tenders were opened in the presence of the procurement committee."
From a Latin root meaning “soft” or “delicate,” tender grew into a word that can describe both a compassionate heart and a soft, easily chewed steak.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tender
The English adjective, verb, and noun descend through Middle English from Old French tendre. The adjective ultimately comes from Latin tener, meaning “soft,” “delicate,” or “tender,” while the related verb senses developed from the Latin root tendere, meaning “to stretch” or “extend.” That root also underlies English words such as tend, tendency, tension, and extend, connecting ideas of stretching, inclination, and tension with the later sense of sensitivity or yieldingness.
Related word forms
How tender is actually used
The adjective is common in both everyday and literary language and often conveys warmth, affection, or emotional sensitivity. The verb and noun senses involving bids, proposals, and payments are especially formal and common in legal, business, and procurement contexts.
Easily confused with tender
Tinder is dry material that catches fire easily, whereas tender means gentle, soft, sensitive, or, in business and legal contexts, an offer or bid.