tenure Definition
ten·ure (ten′yər, -yo̵or)
noun
- the act or right of holding property, an office, a position, etc.
- the length of time, or the conditions under which, something is held
- the status of holding one's position on a permanent basis, granted to teachers, civil service personnel, etc. on the fulfillment of specified requirements
Etymology: ME < MFr < tenir, to hold: see tenant
tenure Related Forms
ten′·ured adjective
tenu′·rial (ten yo̵or′ē əl) adjective
tenure Synonyms
tenure Law Definition
n
- An ancient hierarchical system of land possession or holding in subordination to a superior.
- The status afforded teachers and professors, long considered a cornerstone of academic freedom of protection against dismissal without adequate cause.
- A general legal protection of a long-term relationship, such as employment.
tenure Usage Examples
Object
professor: Clawson's study focused on tenured professors at the institutions of West Virginia.
Converse of object
crofting: In a few places where the moor is not under crofting tenure, the local estate may manage it for grouse shooting.
Adjective modifier
- feudal: Most houses and flats are owned on ' feudal tenure ' .
- customary: Formerly held in customary tenure of the earl of Thanet by the yearly rent of 6d.
- four-year: They are directly elected by the electorate rather than by councilors in the majority group and have a four-year tenure.
- five-year: The former Illinois congressman said he is proud of his five-year tenure at the Pentagon.
- mixed: Desire for mixed tenure There has been strong support in government for mixing tenure on newly built housing estates.
- two-year: His two-year tenure as boss of HMRC has not been without controversy.
Modifies a noun
- freehold: TENURE Freehold with the benefit of vacant possession upon legal completion.
- diversification: Tenure diversification is an important element in the development of sustainable communities.
- mix: Developer attitudes Developers vary in their approach to mixed tenure development; many would prefer there to be no tenure mix.
- faculty: The Department is composed of 19 tenure track faculty, several adjunct faculty and approximately 60 graduate students.
Noun used with modifier
- copyhold: The 1922 Law of Property Act finally abolished copyhold tenure.
- burgage: Their property was probably held by burgage tenure and they paid a higher rate of tax than others.
- leasehold: The Halifax College site to the south of the Heslington West campus has a leasehold tenure.
- land: Farmers cannot maintain their soil in areas affected by civil conflict or insecure land tenure.
- housing: Housing tenure in the center of the housing estate is unbalanced.
Preposition: of
- fellowship: The Fellow may teach elsewhere during tenure of the Fellowship only with the express permission of the Director.
- office: This joint tenure of the office appears to be unique in English history.
- scholarship: The maximum tenure of a scholarship is normally three years and the value of the award is reviewed annually.
Browse dictionary entries near tenure
- ‹ tenuous
- ‹ tenuity
- ‹ tenuis
- ‹ tenth
- ‹ tenterhook
- ‹ tenter
- ‹ tented
- ‹ tentatively
- ‹ tentative
- ‹ tentacle

