Tenant or Tenet?

What Is the Difference between "Tenant" and "Tenet"?

"Tenant" and "tenet" are easy to confuse because they sound so similar.

• "Tenant" is a person who rents land or property. For example:
• The tenant in the apartment above is too noisy.
• "Tenet" is a principle on which a belief or theory is based. For example:
• Non-violence is the central tenet of their faith.

More about "Tenant" or "Tenet"

"Tenant" and "tenet" are typically used in documents intended for a business audience, and they will expect you to use the right word.

Tenant

The noun "tenant" describes a person who occupies land or property that is rented from a landlord. Though not as common, "tenant" can also be used as a verb.

Example sentences with "tenant":

• My tenant never washes his hair.
(Here, "tenant" is a noun.)
• We are only tenants, and shortly the great Landlord will give us notice that our lease has expired. (Actor Joseph Jefferson)
• She tenants the land from a farmer.
(Here, "tenant" is a verb.)

Tenet

The noun "tenet" denotes an adopted belief, theme, or principle.

Example sentences with "tenet":

• Trust is the central tenet of our agreement.
• The phrase "Love your enemies" is not always an easy tenet to live by. (Singer Lea Salonga)
• My views have evolved to support marriage equality. They do not require a religion to alter any of its tenets; it simply forbids government from discrimination regarding who can marry whom. (Actor Tim Johnson)

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