tenancy

[ ten-uhn-see ]

/ ˈtɛn ən si /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for tenancy on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ten·an·cies.

a holding, as of lands, by any kind of title; occupancy of land, a house, or the like, under a lease or on payment of rent; tenure.

the period of a tenant's occupancy.

occupancy or enjoyment of a position, post, situation, etc.: her tenancy as professor of history at the state university.

Archaic. a piece of land held by a tenant; holding.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tenancy

1570–80; ten(ant) + -ancy; compare Medieval Latin tenantia, variant of tenentia

Words nearby tenancy

tenaille, tenaim, tena koe, tena korua, tena koutou, tenancy, tenancy in common, tenant, tenant farmer, tenant farming, tenant in chief

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tenancy in a sentence

“Westminster has comprehensively abided by all federal, state, and local orders regarding residential tenancies during the Covid-19 pandemic … and will faithfully continue to do so,” the statement said.
Management company owned by Jared Kushner files to evict hundreds of families as moratoriums expire|Jonathan O'Connell, Aaron Gregg, Anu Narayanswamy|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
A California family is struggling to evict their now-fired live-in nanny—and tenancy laws are on her side.
When Mrs. Doubtfire Won’t Leave|Keli Goff|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the other hand the letting of an entire floor for lodgings may create a tenancy, and so may even a single room.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
And also point out authorities bearing upon the customs of Celtic agricultural tenancy?
Notes and Queries, Number 192, July 2, 1853|Various

Will any antiquary versed in Celtic customs explain whether this claim of possession grew out of any Celtic usage of tenancy?
Notes and Queries, Number 192, July 2, 1853|Various
Whether he only wanted them during his tenancy or meant to keep them afterwards, we never knew.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, May 16, 1917.|Various
The motion was supported by Mr. Hume, on the ground that seven years was too long a tenancy of a political trust.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

British Dictionary definitions for tenancy

tenancy

/ (ˈtɛnənsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

the temporary possession or holding by a tenant of lands or property owned by another

the period of holding or occupying such property

the period of holding office, a position, etc

property held or occupied by a tenant

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tenancy

Origin of tenancy

Words nearby tenancy

Words related to tenancy

How to use tenancy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tenancy