tenacity

[ tuh-nas-i-tee ]

noun

1. the quality of being tenacious, or of holding fast; persistence:

   the amazing tenacity of rumors.

2. the quality of retaining something:

   the tenacity of memory.

3. the quality or property of holding together firmly:

   testing the tenacity of the old book's binding.

Other Words From

• over·te·naci·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tenacity¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin tenācitās equivalent to tenāc- (stem of tenāx ) “holding fast,” derivative of tenēre “to hold” + -itās -ity ( def )

Synonym Study

See perseverance.

Example Sentences

At one point, he even looked directly into my camera to tell Ryan I deserved a promotion for my “tenacity.”

From Salon

Not every voter has Howard-Elley’s tenacity, or news organizations asking persistent questions about how their case was handled.

From Salon

Their tenacity saw them pick up the New Entrant Award: Against the Odds at the British Farming Awards ceremony in Birmingham.

From BBC

“We are anchored to these values as we usher in a new era for our game shows with tenacity and circumspection.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever."

From BBC

Related Words

• chutzpah
• courage
• determination
• firmness
• grit
• guts
• perseverance
• persistence
• spunk
• steadfastness