tenancy

American  

[ten-uhn-see] / ˈtɛn ən si /

noun

plural

tenancies

1. 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.

2. the period of a tenant's occupancy.

3. occupancy or enjoyment of a position, post, situation, etc..

   her tenancy as professor of history at the state university.

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

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tenancy British  

/ ˈtɛnənsɪ /

noun

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

2. the period of holding or occupying such property

3. the period of holding office, a position, etc

4. property held or occupied by a tenant

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Etymology

Origin of tenancy

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

Example Sentences

This might be a program where a renter stays for an agreed number of years in return for a lump sum at the end of the tenancy that can be put toward a down payment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

NTS said the tenancy would suit "resourceful and enthusiastic" people who were already experienced in crofting, and have a trade or could contribute to the isle's knitwear industry.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

He eventually got a private tenancy, but was unable to keep up with the cost of the rent, which led to him becoming homeless again.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

“This creates a new tenancy in common arrangement in which the children would be given equal shares to one another, but would still be tenants in common with Owner B.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 6, 2025

In all the years of our tenancy we never saw the Zemindar who owned our land.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya