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Definition of tenpin

tenpin

/ˈtɛn.pɪn/
ten · pin
Plural:tenpins
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tenpin Lexical Profile

tenpin Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to or played with ten bowling pins.

Example

"The community center recently opened a four-lane tenpin bowling alley in the basement."

• noun

1

A bottle-shaped wooden or plastic pin used in sets of ten in the standard game of bowling.

Example

"The heavy ball struck the headpin and sent every tenpin flying into the pit."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tenpin

• Nearby Words

tennis
tenor
tenpence
tenpin
tenpins
tenpounder
tense

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 19th-century America as a compound of 'ten' and 'pin', supposedly developed to circumvent laws banning the game of ninepins by adding a tenth pin.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tenpin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tenpin
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