definitions

tenured

[ ten-yerd ]
/ ˈtɛn yərd /
|

adjective

of, having, or eligible for tenure, especially in a college or university: There are three tenured professors in the history department.
granting, allowing, or leading to tenure: None of the advertised jobs is a tenured position.

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Nearby words

tenuis, tenuity, tenuous, tenure, tenure-track, tenured, tenuto, tenzing, tenzing norgay, teocalli, teosinte

Origin of tenured

First recorded in 1960–65; tenure + -ed3

Definition for tenured (2 of 2)

tenure

[ ten-yer ]
/ ˈtɛn yər /

noun

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 French teneure < Vulgar Latin *tenitura, equivalent to *tenit(us) held (for Latin tentus, past participle of tenēre) + -ura -ure

Related forms

Can be confused

tender tenor tenure
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tenured

British Dictionary definitions for tenured (1 of 2)

tenured

/ (ˈtɛnjʊəd, ˈtɛnjəd) /

adjective

mainly US and Canadian
  1. having tenure of officea tenured professor
  2. guaranteeing tenure of officea tenured post

British Dictionary definitions for tenured (2 of 2)

tenure

/ (ˈtɛnjʊə, ˈtɛnjə) /

noun

the possession or holding of an office or position
the length of time an office, position, etc, lasts; term
mainly US and Canadian the 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
  1. the holding or occupying of property, esp realty, in return for services rendered, etc
  2. the duration of such holding or occupation

Derived Forms

tenurial, adjectivetenurially, adverb

Word Origin for tenure

C15: from Old French, from Medieval Latin tenitūra, ultimately from Latin tenēre to hold
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