Render vs. Tender — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 4, 2023
Render means to provide or give, while tender refers to offering something, typically money or services, in a formal or legal context.
Difference Between Render and Tender
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Render is a term that can mean to provide a service, give something back, or represent in a certain manner. It often involves an action where something is made or declared. For instance, one can render assistance or render a judgment. On the other hand, tender involves presenting something formally or with intention, often something of value. It is commonly used in legal and financial contexts, such as tendering a resignation or tendering payment. Both terms involve an act of giving, but render carries the nuance of creating or transforming, while tender is more about the offer or presentation of what is already there.
In another perspective, render can also mean to process or extract, as in rendering fat in cooking, or in technology, where images are rendered by computers. Tender, contrastingly, may refer to something soft or delicate in quality, or as a noun, it can mean a small boat used to transport people or goods from a larger ship to shore. While rendering is about transformation or provision, tendering is about offering or describing a certain quality.
When one renders something, there is often an implication of a service or action completed, such as rendering a verdict in a legal setting. Tender has a gentler connotation, suggesting a careful offering of something, like tendering one’s sympathy in a time of grief. Render is utilitarian, while tender is considerate.
Both words can be associated with exchanges between people, but their usage contexts differ significantly. To render is to hand over, provide, or depict, with a sense of completion or fulfillment of a requirement. To tender, especially in a business or legal context, means to offer or propose with some form of obligation or intention to fulfill an agreement. Render brings something into being or acknowledges what is due, while tender is the act of presenting for acceptance or rejection.
Comparison Chart
Definition
To provide or give
To offer formally
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Context
Service, assistance, or artistic
Legal, financial, or emotional
Usage
More general and versatile
More formal and specific
Connotation
Providing or creating
Offering or proposing
Example
Rendering aid
Tendering a bid
Compare with Definitions
Render
To cause to become or to make.
The verdict rendered him free of all charges.
Tender
To offer formally or officially.
She tendered her resignation yesterday.
Render
In computing, to generate a visual image from data.
The software rendered the 3D model in high detail.
Tender
To propose for acceptance.
He tendered an offer for the property.
Render
Provide or give (a service, help, etc.)
Mrs Evans would render assistance to those she thought were in need
Money serves as a reward for services rendered
Tender
Showing gentleness, kindness, and affection
She covered his face with tender kisses
He was being so kind and tender
Render
Cause to be or become; make
The rains rendered his escape impossible
Tender
(of food) easy to cut or chew; not tough
Tender green beans
Render
Represent or depict artistically
The eyes and the cheeks are exceptionally well rendered
Tender
(of a part of the body) sensitive to pain
The pale, tender skin of her forearm
Render
Covertly send (a foreign criminal or terrorist suspect) for interrogation abroad; subject to extraordinary rendition.
Tender
Young, inexperienced, or vulnerable
He started sailing at the tender age of ten
Render
Melt down (fat) in order to clarify it
The fat was being cut up and rendered for lard
Tender
(of a ship) leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind.
Render
Cover (stone or brick) with a coat of plaster
External walls will be rendered and tiled
Tender
Offer or present (something) formally
He tendered his resignation as leader
Render
A first coat of plaster applied to a brick or stone surface.
Tender
An offer to carry out work, supply goods, or buy land, shares, or another asset at a stated fixed price
Being government land, it was sold by tender
We invited tenders for up to three more frigates
A minimum tender price
Render
To submit or present, as for consideration, approval, or payment
Render an opinion.
Render a bill.
Tender
A vehicle used by a fire service for carrying specified supplies or equipment or fulfilling a specified role
Three fire engines, including an emergency tender, attended the scene
Render
To give or make available; provide
Render assistance.
Render a service.
Tender
A dinghy or other boat used to ferry people and supplies to and from a ship.
Render
To give in return or by obligation
Render thanks.
Rendered homage.
Tender
A trailing vehicle closely coupled to a steam locomotive to carry fuel and water.
Render
To deliver or pronounce formally
Render a verdict.
Tender
A person who looks after someone else or a machine or place
Alexei signalled to one of the engine tenders
Render
To surrender or relinquish; yield
They rendered their lives defending their country.
Tender
Easily crushed or bruised; fragile
A tender petal.
Render
To transfer (a suspect or prisoner) from one country to another by rendition.
Tender
Easily chewed or cut
Tender beef.
Render
To cause to become; make
The news rendered her speechless.
Tender
Young and vulnerable
Of tender age.
Render
To represent in verbal form; depict
"Joyce has attempted ... to render ... what our participation in life is like" (Edmund Wilson).
Tender
Frail; delicate.
Render
To represent in a drawing or painting, especially in perspective.
Tender
Sensitive to frost or severe cold; not hardy
Tender green shoots.
Render
(Computers) To convert (graphics) from a file into visual form, as on a video display.
Tender
Easily hurt; sensitive
Tender skin.
Render
To perform an interpretation of (a musical piece, for example).
Tender
Painful; sore
A tender tooth.
Render
To arrange
Rendered the composition for string quartet.
Tender
Considerate and protective; solicitous
A tender mother.
His tender concern.
Render
To express in another language or form; translate
Rendered the Greek passage into English.
Tender
Characterized by or expressing gentle emotions; loving
A tender glance.
A tender ballad.
Render
To reduce, convert, or melt down (fat) by heating.
Tender
Given to sympathy or sentimentality; soft
A tender heart.
Render
To coat (brick, for example) with plaster or cement.
Tender
(Nautical) Likely to heel easily under sail; crank.
Render
A payment in kind, services, or cash from a tenant to a feudal lord.
Tender
To make tender.
Render
(ditransitive) To cause to become.
The shot rendered her immobile.
Tender
To offer formally
Tender a letter of resignation.
Render
(transitive) To interpret, give an interpretation or rendition of.
The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully.
Tender
(Law) To offer (payment or performance) pursuant to an obligation.
Render
(transitive) To translate into another language.
To render Latin into English
Tender
A strip of meat, usually chicken, often breaded, deep-fried, and served with a sauce.
Render
(transitive) To pass down.
Render a verdict (i.e., deliver a judgment)
Tender
(Law) An offer to pay the amount due under a debt or obligation.
Render
(transitive) To make over as a return.
They had to render the estate.
Tender
A written offer to contract goods or services at a specified cost or rate; a bid.
Render
(transitive) To give; to give back; to deliver.
Render aid; render money
To render an account of what really happened
Tender
Something, especially money, offered in payment.
Render
To give up; to yield; to surrender.
Tender
One who tends something
A lathe tender.
Render
To transform (a model) into a display on the screen or other media.
Rendering images
Tender
(Nautical) A vessel attendant on other vessels, especially one that ferries supplies between ship and shore.
Render
(transitive) To capture and turn over to another country secretly and extrajudicially.
Tender
A railroad car attached to the rear of a locomotive and designed to carry fuel and water.
Render
(transitive) To convert waste animal tissue into a usable byproduct.
Rendering of fat into soap
Tender
Sensitive or painful to the touch.
Render
To have fat drip off meat from cooking.
Bacon is very fatty when raw; however, most of the fat will render during cooking.
Tender
Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.
Tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit
Render
(construction) To cover a wall with a layer of plaster.
To render with stucco
Tender
Physically weak; not able to endure hardship.
Render
(nautical) To pass; to run; said of the passage of a rope through a block, eyelet, etc.
A rope renders well, that is, passes freely.
Tender
(of food) Soft and easily chewed.
Render
(nautical) To yield or give way.
Tender
Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Render
(obsolete) To return; to pay back; to restore.
Tender
Fond, loving, gentle, or sweet.
Suzanne was such a tender mother to her children.
Render
(obsolete) To inflict, as a retribution; to requite.
Tender
Young and inexperienced.
Render
Stucco or plaster applied to walls (mostly to outside masonry walls).
Tender
Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic.
Tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain
Render
(computer graphics) A digital image produced by rendering a model.
A low-resolution render might look blocky.
Tender
Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate.
A tender subject
Render
(obsolete) A surrender.
Tender
(nautical) Heeling over too easily when under sail; said of a vessel.
Render
(obsolete) A return; a payment of rent.
Tender
(obsolete) Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
Render
(obsolete) An account given; a statement.
Tender
(obsolete) Careful to keep inviolate, or not to injure; used with of.
Render
One who rends.
Tender
(obsolete) Care, kind concern, regard.
Render
One who rends.
Tender
The inner flight muscle (pectoralis minor) of poultry.
Render
A surrender.
Tender
(obsolete) Someone who tends or waits on someone.
Render
A return; a payment of rent.
In those early times the king's household was supported by specific renders of corn and other victuals from the tenants of the demains.
Tender
(rail transport) A railroad car towed behind a steam engine to carry fuel and water.
Render
An account given; a statement.
Tender
(nautical) A naval ship that functions as a mobile base for other ships.
Submarine tender
Destroyer tender
Render
To return; to pay back; to restore.
Whose smallest minute lost, no riches render may.
Tender
(nautical) A smaller boat used for transportation between a large ship and the shore.
Render
To inflict, as a retribution; to requite.
I will render vengeance to mine enemies.
Tender
Anything which is offered, proffered, put forth or bid with the expectation of a response, answer, or reply.
You offer me the sword of my father, the very man whose bones, because of your perfidy, lie under the sod of Crecy. Aye, I'll surely take it, and just as surely you shall die with your tender through your heart!
Render
To give up; to yield; to surrender.
I 'll make her render up her page to me.
Tender
A means of payment such as a check or cheque, cash or credit card.
Your credit card has been declined so you need to provide some other tender such as cash.
Legal tender
Render
Hence, to furnish; to contribute.
Logic renders its daily service to wisdom and virtue.
Tender
(legal) A formal offer to buy or sell something.
We will submit our tender to you within the week.
Render
To furnish; to state; to deliver; as, to render an account; to render judgment.
Tender
Any offer or proposal made for acceptance.
Render
To cause to be, or to become; as, to render a person more safe or more unsafe; to render a fortress secure.
Tender
Tenderly
Love me tender, love me sweet
Never let me go
Never let me go
Render
To translate from one language into another; as, to render Latin into English.
Tender
To make tender or delicate; to weaken.
Render
To interpret; to set forth, represent, or exhibit; as, an actor renders his part poorly; a singer renders a passage of music with great effect; a painter renders a scene in a felicitous manner.
He did render him the most unnaturalThat lived amongst men.
Tender
(archaic) To feel tenderly towards; to regard fondly or with consideration.
Render
To try out or extract (oil, lard, tallow, etc.) from fatty animal substances; as, to render tallow.
Tender
To work on a tender.
Render
To plaster, as a wall of masonry, without the use of lath.
Tender
(formal) To offer, to give.
To tender one’s resignation
Render
To give an account; to make explanation or confession.
Tender
To offer a payment, as at sales or auctions.
Render
To pass; to run; - said of the passage of a rope through a block, eyelet, etc.; as, a rope renders well, that is, passes freely; also, to yield or give way.
Tender
One who tends; one who takes care of any person or thing; a nurse.
Render
A substance similar to stucco but exclusively applied to masonry walls
Tender
A vessel employed to attend other vessels, to supply them with provisions and other stores, to convey intelligence, or the like.
Render
Cause to become;
The shot rendered her immobile
Tender
A car attached to a locomotive, for carrying a supply of fuel and water.
Render
Provide or furnish with;
We provided the room with an electrical heater
Tender
An offer, either of money to pay a debt, or of service to be performed, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture, which would be incurred by nonpayment or nonperformance; as, the tender of rent due, or of the amount of a note, with interest.
Render
Give an interpretation or rendition of;
The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully
Tender
Any offer or proposal made for acceptance; as, a tender of a loan, of service, or of friendship; a tender of a bid for a contract.
A free, unlimited tender of the gospel.
Render
Give or supply;
The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
The estate renders some revenue for the family
Tender
The thing offered; especially, money offered in payment of an obligation.
Render
Pass down;
Render a verdict
Deliver a judgment
Tender
Regard; care; kind concern.
Render
Make over as a return;
They had to render the estate
Tender
To offer in payment or satisfaction of a demand, in order to save a penalty or forfeiture; as, to tender the amount of rent or debt.
Render
Give back;
Render money
Tender
To offer in words; to present for acceptance.
You see how all conditions, how all minds, . . . tender downTheir services to Lord Timon.
Render
To surrender someone or something to another;
The guard delivered the criminal to the police
Render up the prisoners
Render the town to the enemy
Fork over the money
Tender
To have a care of; to be tender toward; hence, to regard; to esteem; to value.
For first, next after life, he tendered her good.
Tender yourself more dearly.
To see a prince in want would move a miser's charity. Our western princes tendered his case, which they counted might be their own.
Render
Show in, or as in, a picture;
This scene depicts country life
The face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting
Tender
Easily impressed, broken, bruised, or injured; not firm or hard; delicate; as, tender plants; tender flesh; tender fruit.
Render
Coat with plastic or cement;
Render the brick walls in the den
Tender
Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
Our bodies are not naturally more tender than our faces.
Render
Bestow;
Give hommage
Render thanks
Tender
Physically weak; not hardly or able to endure hardship; immature; effeminate.
The tender and delicate woman among you.
Render
Restate (words) from one language into another language;
I have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the U.S.
Can you interpret the speech of the visiting dignitaries?
She rendered the French poem into English
He translates for the U.N.
Tender
Susceptible of the softer passions, as love, compassion, kindness; compassionate; pitiful; anxious for another's good; easily excited to pity, forgiveness, or favor; sympathetic.
The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
I am choleric by my nature, and tender by my temper.
Render
Melt (fat, lard, etc.) in order to separate out impurities;
Try the yak butter
Render fat in a casserole
Tender
Exciting kind concern; dear; precious.
I love Valentine,Whose life's as tender to me as my soul!
Render
To provide or supply.
The government rendered assistance to the flood victims.
Tender
Careful to save inviolate, or not to injure; - with of.
The civil authority should be tender of the honor of God and religion.
Render
To represent artistically or translate.
The artist rendered the landscape beautifully in oil paints.
Tender
Unwilling to cause pain; gentle; mild.
You, that are thus so tender o'er his follies,Will never do him good.
Render
To process or extract, especially in cooking.
She rendered the chicken fat to make schmaltz.
Tender
Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic; as, tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain.
Tender
Apt to give pain; causing grief or pain; delicate; as, a tender subject.
Tender
Heeling over too easily when under sail; - said of a vessel.
Tender
Something used as an official medium of payment
Tender
Someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
Tender
A formal proposal to buy at a specified price
Tender
Car attached to a locomotive to carry fuel and water
Tender
A boat for communication between ship and shore
Tender
Ship that usually provides supplies to other ships
Tender
Offer or present for acceptance
Tender
Propose a payment;
The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting
Tender
Make a tender of; in legal settlements
Tender
Make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer;
Tenderize meat
Tender
Given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality;
A tender heart
A tender smile
Tender loving care
Tender memories
A tender mother
Tender
Hurting;
The tender spot on his jaw
Tender
Susceptible to physical or emotional injury;
At a tender age
Tender
Having or displaying warmth or affection;
Affectionate children
Caring parents
A fond embrace
Fond of his nephew
A tender glance
A warm embrace
Tender
Easy to cut or chew;
Tender beef
Tender
Physically untoughened;
Tender feet
Tender
(used of boats) inclined to heel over easily under sail
Tender
(of plants) not hardy; easily killed by adverse growing condition;
Tender green shoots
Tender
To provide payment.
They tendered the exact change for the meal.
Tender
Being gentle, soft, or delicate.
The nurse’s tender care eased the patient's discomfort.
Tender
A small boat used to service a larger one.
The sailors took the tender to reach the shore from the ship.
Common Curiosities
What does tender mean?
Tender generally refers to offering something formally or delicately.
Is tender only used in financial contexts?
No, it can also describe a quality of gentleness or refer to a type of boat.
Can render be used in a technological context?
Yes, in computing, it means to generate a visual image from data.
What does tender in ‘legal tender’ mean?
It refers to money that is recognized by law as valid for payment.
How do you use render in a legal context?
One might render a verdict or judgment.
What does render mean?
Render typically means to provide, give, or depict.
What is an example of rendering a service?
Volunteering at a shelter is rendering a service to the community.
Is tender always soft in nature?
As an adjective, yes, but as a verb, it refers to the act of offering.
What is rendered fat?
It is fat that has been melted down and clarified.
Does tender always involve money?
No, one can tender apologies or services as well.
Can tender be used as a verb?
Yes, it can mean to offer or present something formally.
Can render be synonymous with causing?
Yes, as in rendering someone helpless.
Can something be rendered obsolete?
Yes, typically through the advancement of technology.
What does it mean to tender a boat?
It refers to using a smaller boat to service a larger one.
Is the word render used in cooking?
Yes, it refers to the process of melting down fat.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
