Word
tenancy
Phoneticsten·an·cy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛnənsi/
UK/tˈɛnənsi/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the legal right to live in or use a building or land that you rent from a landlord. It also refers to the period of time you stay there.
n. the possession or occupancy of lands or buildings by title, under a lease, or on payment of rent. Refers both to the legal status of the occupant and the duration of the occupancy.
Examples
“The landlord offered us a one-year tenancy.”
“Before moving in, the students had to sign a formal agreement that outlined the rules of their joint tenancy.”
“The legal dispute centered on whether the occupant had established a secure tenancy through long-term residence or was merely a short-term licensee with fewer protections against eviction.”
Examples
simple
“The landlord offered us a one-year tenancy.”
contextual
“Before moving in, the students had to sign a formal agreement that outlined the rules of their joint tenancy.”
complex
“The legal dispute centered on whether the occupant had established a secure tenancy through long-term residence or was merely a short-term licensee with fewer protections against eviction.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tenancy” in context.
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'joint tenancy' or 'tenancy agreement'.
Pitfall
the tenancy of the house is high
the rent of the house is high
Learners sometimes confuse 'tenancy' (the right to occupy) with 'rent' (the payment for that right).
Real-World Examples
“But on day one, you break up, and are then stuck living together for the next six months as “friends” until you can wriggle out of your tenancy.” “Certainly, the ability to cut our tenancy short has been a gamechanger over the summer; previously, we had to keep paying rent for rooms we couldn’t stay in.” Etymology
From tenant + -cy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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