Tenure is the legal right to live in a particular building or to use a particular piece of land during a fixed period of time.
Lack of security of tenure was a reason for many families becoming homeless.
Synonyms: occupancy, holding, occupation, residence More Synonyms of tenure
2. uncountable noun
Tenure is the period of time during which someone holds an important job.
...the three-year tenure of the President. [+ of]
He was in the middle of his tenure as Oxford Professor of Poetry and at the heightof his fame.
Synonyms: term of office, term, incumbency, period in office More Synonyms of tenure
3. uncountable noun
If you have tenure in your job, you have the right to keep it until you retire.
Junior staff have only a slim chance of getting tenure.
tenure in British English
(ˈtɛnjʊə, ˈtɛnjə)
noun
1.
the possession or holding of an office or position
2.
the length of time an office, position, etc, lasts; term
3. 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
4.
the right to permanent employment until retirement, esp for teachers, lecturers, etc
5. property law
a.
the holding or occupying of property, esp realty, in return for services rendered, etc
b.
the duration of such holding or occupation
Derived forms
tenurial (tenˈurial)
adjective
tenurially (tenˈurially)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Old French, from Medieval Latin tenitūra, ultimately from Latin tenēre to hold
tenure in American English
(ˈtɛnjər; ˈtɛnjʊr)
noun
1.
the act or right of holding property, an office, a position, etc.
2.
the length of time, or the conditions under which, something is held
3.
the status of holding one's position on a permanent basis, granted to teachers, civil service personnel, etc. on the fulfillment of specified requirements
Derived forms
tenured (ˈtenured)
adjective
tenurial (tenˈurial) (tɛnˈjʊriəl)
adjective
Word origin
ME < MFr < tenir, to hold: see tenant
Examples of 'tenure' in a sentence
tenure
These seem likely to reflect income and affluence rather than tenure status.
Forrest, Ray & Murie, Alan & Williams, Peter Home-ownership - differentiation and fragmentation (1990)
Yet his record should have demanded a more coherent and sensible end to his tenure.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Long tenure in ministry also enhances credibility.
Christianity Today (2000)
He hoped that his tenure would be long.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In particular the laws, custom and practice of land tenure and inheritance were different.
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
Sadly for the circuit, it was to be the shortest tenure of that office.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
During his tenure, the company flourished.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
But he was warned by fellow Conservatives that his tenure in the job could be short.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In public bureaucracies, tenure of a post was usually for life.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
Equally the attitudes of individuals and households to their home are formed by a wider range of experience than their legal tenure status.
Forrest, Ray & Murie, Alan & Williams, Peter Home-ownership - differentiation and fragmentation (1990)
The minister's tenure of office.
Wright, Vincent The Government and Politics of France (1989)
Their job tenure averages 6.2 years compared with 8.9 years in the public sector.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It said: 'Many chief constables are coming to the end of their tenure.
The Sun (2012)
His tenure ends in June.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In that sense, and except towards the end of her long tenure of office, she was always instinctively cautious.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
High performers are on their fifth job by the time they are 27 and their average tenure at a job is 2.6 years.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One colleague recalled that he might be found during a quiet moment in his office poring over a text on Japanese archaeology or Ethiopian land tenure practices.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Although the American colonists had objected to the demands of feudal land tenure, they found it difficult to escape the sense of social hierarchy that it imbued.
Andro Linklater MEASURING AMERICA (2002)
History A meadow which has been managed for hay for at least 800 years as a result of an unusual form of land tenure.
Perring, Franklyn A Guide to Britain's Conservation Heritage (1991)
Word lists with
tenure
Property law terms
In other languages
tenure
British English: tenure NOUN
Tenure is the legal right to live in a particular building or to use a particular piece of land during a fixed period of time.
Lack of security of tenure was a reason for many families becoming homeless.
American English: tenure
Brazilian Portuguese: posse
Chinese: 居住权
European Spanish: tenencia
French: bail
German: Nutzungsrecht
Italian: diritto d'occupazione
Japanese: 不動産の保有期間
Korean: > 거주권건물이나 토지의
European Portuguese: posse
Latin American Spanish: tenencia
1 (noun)
Definition
the holding of an office or position
Lack of security of tenure meant that many became homeless.
Synonyms
occupancy
Prices given are for a single occupancy of a standard room.
holding
occupation
She is seeking an order for `sole use and occupation' of the house.
residence
He returned to his place of residence.
tenancy
Check the terms of your tenancy closely.
possession
These documents are now in the possession of the authorities.
proprietorship
2 (noun)
Definition
the length of time an office or position lasts
his short tenure of the party leadership
Synonyms
term of office
term
a 12-month term of service
incumbency
period in office
time
For a long time I didn't tell anyone.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of occupation
She is seeking an order for `sole use and occupation' of the house.
Synonyms
occupancy,
use,
residence,
holding,
control,
possession,
tenure,
tenancy,
habitation,
inhabitancy
in the sense of possession
Definition
the state of possessing
These documents are now in the possession of the authorities.
Synonyms
ownership,
control,
custody,
hold,
hands,
tenure,
occupancy,
proprietorship
in the sense of residence
Definition
a period of residing in a place
He returned to his place of residence.
Synonyms
stay,
tenancy,
occupancy,
occupation,
sojourn
Nearby words of
tenure
tenterhooks
tenth
tenuous
tenure
tepid
tergiversate
term
Synonyms of 'tenure'
tenure
Explore 'tenure' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of tenancy
Definition
the temporary possession or use of lands or property owned by somebody else, in return for payment