tenure

American  

[ten-yer] / ˈtɛn yər /

noun

1. the holding or possessing of anything.

   the tenure of an office.

2. the holding of property, especially real property, of a superior in return for services to be rendered.

3. the period or term of holding something.

4. status granted to an employee, usually after a probationary period, indicating that the position or employment is permanent.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give tenure to.

   After she served three years on probation, the committee tenured her.

tenure British  

/ ˈtɛnjə, ˈtɛnjʊə /

noun

1. the possession or holding of an office or position

2. the length of time an office, position, etc, lasts; term

3. the improved security status of a person after having been in the employ of the same company or institution for a specified period

4. the right to permanent employment until retirement, esp for teachers, lecturers, etc

5. property law

   1. the holding or occupying of property, esp realty, in return for services rendered, etc

   2. the duration of such holding or occupation

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Other Word Forms

• nontenurial adjective
• nontenurially adverb
• tenurial adjective
• tenurially adverb
• undertenure noun

Etymology

Origin of tenure

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French; Old French teneure, from Vulgar Latin tenitura (unrecorded), equivalent to tenit(us) (unrecorded) “held” (for Latin tentus, past participle of tenēre “to hold”) + -ura -ure

Example Sentences

A Super Bowl may ensure a couple more years on the sideline but it doesn’t mean lifetime tenure.

From The Wall Street Journal

But former immigration officials told us they rarely heard of such incidents during their long tenures.

From Salon

But the longer he stayed, the more surprising his tenure became for its sheer consistency.

From The Wall Street Journal

The questions over fitness and its subsequent impact on their fielding dominated the start of Edwards' tenure.

From BBC

Traditionally, the chair retires immediately rather than serve out their optional tenure as a governor.

From Barron's

Related Words

• administration
• occupation
• ownership
• regime
• reign
• term