Meaning & use
key tenets
Last updated
“key tenets” is a form of “tenet”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralformal
The most important principles or beliefs that a religion, theory, movement or group is built on.
Grammar: Plural; the singular is key tenet: one key tenet of the group.
Patterns
- the key tenets of something
- accept the key tenets of something
One of the key tenets of the school's philosophy is that every child can learn.
Students were asked to explain the key tenets of utilitarianism.
He rejected the key tenets of the party he had once led.
Word forms
| singular | key tenet |
|---|
Common combinations
- key tenets of the faith
- The priest explained the key tenets of the faith to new members.
- core tenets
- Honesty is among the core tenets of our company.
- abandon the key tenets
- The party abandoned its key tenets to win more votes.
- adhere to the key tenets
- All members must adhere to the key tenets of the organization.
- challenge the key tenets
- The new research challenges the key tenets of the old theory.
Synonyms and how they differ
- principles
- Principles is a broader and everyday word, while tenets suggests beliefs that a specific group formally holds.
- doctrines
- Doctrines are the official teachings of a church or institution, which sounds stricter than tenets.
- beliefs
- Beliefs is general and can be personal, while key tenets implies an agreed core for a group or system.
- cornerstones
- Cornerstones is more figurative, stressing what the whole structure depends on.
Word family
Commonly confused: key tenets or tenant? key tenets or tenets?
key tenets vs tenant
A tenant is a person who rents a home or land; tenet is a belief or principle. They sound the same in many accents.
key tenets vs tenets
Tenets is the plural; a single principle is a tenet, not a tenets.
Practice
Equality before the law is one of the ____ of a democratic society.
Choose one answer.
Key tenets are the basic principles of a system of belief. Tenants are people who rent a home, so they do not fit this context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “key tenets”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.