# tenure

/ˈtɛnjɝ/ (US) · /tˈɛnjɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tenure
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. academic job security

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a special status at a university that gives a teacher a permanent job so they cannot be fired easily.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. period in office

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the period of time during which someone holds an important job or position.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. land or property holding

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the legal right to live in a house or use a piece of land for a certain time.

For teachers: 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'.

### 4. to give a permanent post

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · American English

to give a teacher or professor a permanent position at a university.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- During his tenure as president, the company grew significantly.
- After years of research and publishing, the professor was finally granted tenure by the university board.
- The prime minister's decade-long tenure was marked by significant economic reform and a shift in foreign policy that redefined the nation's global standing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.