tenderfoot

UK: /ˈtɛndəˌfʊt/ US: /ˈtɛndɚˌfʊt/ ,(ten′dər fŏŏt′)

Inflections of 'tenderfoot' (n):

tenderfoots

npl

tenderfeet

npl

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ten•der•foot /ˈtɛndɚˌfʊt/   n. [countable] , pl. -foots, -feet. 

1. an inexperienced person, esp. one not used to hardships.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ten•der•foot  (ten′dər fŏŏt′), n., pl. -foots, -feet 

(-fēt′). 
1. a raw, inexperienced person;
   novice.
2. a newcomer to the ranching and mining regions of the western U.S., unused to hardships.
3. one in the lowest rank of the Boy Scouts of America or Girl Scouts of America.

• tender¹ + foot 1840–50, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tenderfoot / ˈtɛndəˌfʊt/ noun ( -foots, -feet)

1. a newcomer, esp to the mines or ranches of the southwestern US
2. (formerly) a beginner in the Scouts or Guides