tenured

American  

[ten-yerd] / ˈtɛn jərd /

adjective

1. of, having, or eligible for tenure, especially in a college or university.

   There are three tenured professors in the history department.

2. granting, allowing, or leading to tenure.

   None of the advertised jobs is a tenured position.

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tenured British  

/ ˈtɛnjʊəd, ˈtɛnjəd /

adjective

1. 1. having tenure of office

      a tenured professor

   2. guaranteeing tenure of office

      a tenured post

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Etymology

Origin of tenured

First recorded in 1960–65; tenure + -ed ³

Example Sentences

Tenured professors doubling as groundskeepers at a $70,000-a-year private college in New England is another sign of what is shaping up as the bleakest era for America’s smaller private schools.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Tenured faculty numbers have been declining even in more liberal states.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2023

Tenured faculty, though, wield enormous power in a tradition known as shared governance.

From Washington Post • Jun. 8, 2021

Tenured faculty can be fired, although in such cases cause must be proven.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2016

Tenured faculty get fired now in universities even when they have not said anything related to sex, race, gender, or religion.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2016