the holding or possessing of anything: the tenure of an office.
the holding of property, especially real property, of a superior in return for services to be rendered.
the period or term of holding something.
status granted to an employee, usually after a probationary period, indicating that the position or employment is permanent.
verb (used with object)
to give tenure to: After she served three years on probation, the committee tenured her.
Origin of tenure
1250–1300;Middle English < Anglo-French;Old Frenchteneure < Vulgar Latin*tenitura, equivalent to *tenit(us) held (for Latintentus, past participle of tenēre) + -ura-ure
Related formsten·u·ri·al[ten-yoo r-ee-uh l]/tɛnˈyʊər i əl/, adjectiveten·u·ri·al·ly, adverbnon·ten·u·ri·al, adjectivenon·ten·u·ri·al·ly, adverbun·der·ten·ure, nounCan be confusedtendertenortenure
the possession or holding of an office or position
the length of time an office, position, etc, lasts; term
mainlyUS and Canadianthe improved security status of a person after having been in the employ of the same company or institution for a specified period
the right to permanent employment until retirement, esp for teachers, lecturers, etc
property law
the holding or occupying of property, esp realty, in return for services rendered, etc
early 15c., "holding of a tenement," from Anglo-French and Old French tenure "a tenure, estate in land" (13c.), from Old French tenir "to hold," from Vulgar Latin *tenire, from Latin tenere "to hold" (see tenet). The sense of "condition or fact of holding a status, position, or occupation" is first attested 1590s. Meaning "guaranteed tenure of office" (usually at a university or school) is recorded from 1957.
