MEANING
A principle or belief accepted as a basis of a theory, doctrine, or group’s outlook.
Use it for
identifying a theory’s guiding belief; comparing the commitments of rival schools; questioning a principle accepted within a traditionIdentifies a guiding belief without presenting its acceptance as proof of truth. Academic functions: Theory / Conceptual Language, Argumentation.
Words that belong together
- central tenet
- basic tenet of the theory
- challenge a tenet
On the page
The essay distinguishes a central tenet of the movement from policies adopted only later.
The research challenges the tenet that institutional competition necessarily improves public services.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- tenet
Usage notes
Count noun: tenet, tenets; a tenet of a theory, doctrine, or group. Register: formal. Commonness: uncommon (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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