tenure
Americannoun
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the holding or possessing of anything.
the tenure of an office.
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the holding of property, especially real property, of a superior in return for services to be rendered.
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the period or term of holding something.
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status granted to an employee, usually after a probationary period, indicating that the position or employment is permanent.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the possession or holding of an office or position
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the length of time an office, position, etc, lasts; term
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the improved security status of a person after having been in the employ of the same company or institution for a specified period
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the right to permanent employment until retirement, esp for teachers, lecturers, etc
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property law
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the holding or occupying of property, esp realty, in return for services rendered, etc
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the duration of such holding or occupation
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Other Word Forms
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
Explanation
Take the noun tenure for the period of time a person holds a position or office. Your tenure as a student ends when you graduate high school — unless, of course, you go on to college. Tenure from the Latin tenere means "to hold" and refers to the period of time a person works at a particular job or in an office. A president might have to deal with a recession during his tenure in the White House. In university jargon, if you have tenure, you have a permanent teaching position or professorship. In this sense, tenure can also be used as a verb. You've got it made if you're tenured at age 29.
Vocabulary lists containing tenure
"The Declaration of Independence," Vocabulary from the historical document
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Vocabulary from the Magna Carta on its 800th Anniversary
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "T"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Another World Cup play-off failure for Italy earlier this year meant they were absent from this summer's tournament and spelled the end of Gattuso's tenure, with his contract terminated in April by mutual consent.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
It’s why Petitti has been to Washington 21 times, he said, during his tenure as commissioner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
The chain has experienced other problems as well, including remodels that backfired, agitation among activist investors and same-store sales that have wobbled over Masino’s three-year tenure.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Cracker Barrel Chief Executive Julie Masino stepped down, ending a three-year tenure at the comfort-food chain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
With this figure in hand, Mann and Fields calculated the average tenure of more than three hundred other lifetime appointments, including popes, European kings and queens, and U.S.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
