Phrase guide

chicken tender

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A deep-fried strip of chicken without bones or skin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural-normally

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A flap of chicken meat found on, and easily detached from, the breast.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

Examples

  • 2008, Elizabeth Alston, Editors of Woman's Day, The Woman's Day Cookbook for Healthy Living, page 114, When you buy breast halves, you may find a long, thicker piece on one side; it is called the chicken tender. In today's markets, tenders are often sold separately. But if you do find breasts with tenders intact, you may want to pull them off (the breast will cook more evenly), wrap airtight and freeze until tou have enough to make a meal.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From chicken + tender (possibly an abbreviation of tenderloin, although not associated with the loin).