Word
tenure
Phoneticsten·ure, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛnjɝ/
UK/tˈɛnjɐ/
Definitions
01academic job security
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic
n. a special status at a university that gives a teacher a permanent job so they cannot be fired easily.
n. a status of permanent employment granted to a teacher or professor, typically after a probationary period, intended to protect academic freedom.
“After years of research and publishing books, she was finally granted tenure at the university.”
“The university's decision to deny tenure to the controversial researcher sparked a heated debate regarding the protection of academic freedom in modern institutions.”
Usage
often used with the verb 'grant' or 'receive'.
Synonyms
02period in office
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the period of time during which someone holds an important job or position.
n. the term or duration during which an individual holds an official position or office.
“During his tenure as manager, the company's profits increased significantly.”
“Her tenure as the head of the central bank was marked by a series of aggressive interest rate hikes aimed at curbing inflation.”
Usage
frequently followed by the preposition 'of'.
03land or property holding
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. the legal right to live in a house or use a piece of land for a certain time.
n. the legal regime or conditions under which land or buildings are held or occupied.
“The government is looking at new laws regarding land tenure for small farmers.”
“The complex system of land tenure in the region dates back to colonial-era statutes that complicate modern property development.”
Usage
often appears in the phrase 'land tenure'.
Synonyms
04to give a permanent post
C1 · Advanced Academic · American English
v. to give a teacher or professor a permanent position at a university.
v. to grant a permanent academic position to an individual.
“He was tenured last year after his second book became a major success.”
“The department rarely tenures more than two junior faculty members in a single academic cycle due to budget constraints.”
Usage
usually used in the passive voice.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tenure” in context.
Verb
01. end his tenure
“The CEO decided to end his tenure after leading the company through a decade of unprecedented growth.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. grant tenure
“The university committee decided to grant tenure to the professor after her groundbreaking research was published.”
verb + noun
03. secure tenure
“Young academics often work long hours and publish extensively to secure tenure at prestigious institutions.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. brief tenure
“Despite his brief tenure as manager, he implemented several key reforms that improved office morale.”
adj + noun
05. tumultuous tenure
“The politician's tumultuous tenure was marked by constant scandals and public protests.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. length of tenure
“The board evaluated the director's performance based on the length of tenure and the stability he provided.”
noun + of + noun
07. tenure track
“She was thrilled to finally land a tenure track position in the biology department.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. during her tenure
“During her tenure as head of the department, student enrollment increased by forty percent.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Jorge Valdano, the former Madrid player and manager who worked upstairs during Mourinho’s first tenure, was of the opinion that a lot has indeed changed since then.” “When he praised the outgoing press secretary for her tenure on Wednesday, Leavitt joked on social media that the pair had survived “many, many news cycles” together.” Etymology
From Middle English tenure, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French tenure, from Vulgar Latin tenitura, from tenitus, from Latin tentus (from teneō) + -ura.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
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