tenure
/ˈtɛnjə
/noun [mass noun]
1The conditions under which land or buildings are held or occupied.But without exception, these big operations use leased land, with tenures typically of two to five years....
- The stability of the system is indicated by the fact that long-term leases for a life or for several lives were common, and that these long-term grants tended to turn into hereditary tenures.
- Much of the country was still held in multiple tenures - infield and outfield, with the remainder still held as ‘commonties’ by the local community.
Synonyms
tenancy, occupancy, holding, occupation, residence;
possession, title, ownership, proprietorship
2The holding of an office: his tenure of the premiership would be threatened...
- During his tenure, the university experienced its most expansive period of growth.
- During his tenure at Oxford University, he belonged to a group called the inklings, which also included the author C.S. Lewis.
- During the president's tenure in office, he's built an impressive record.
Synonyms
incumbency, term of office, term, period of/in office, time, time in office
2.1 [count noun] A period for which an office is held.To make matters worse, most cabinet officials have rather short tenures in office....
- These single teachers taught an average of 12 years, raising the average tenure of teachers.
- Humphries, at the request of the board, has already extended his tenure at the university at least twice this year.
3Guaranteed permanent employment, especially as a teacher or lecturer, after a probationary period. Also called security of tenure. tenure for university staff has been abolished...
- College/university music teachers have tenure, rank and their employer's standards that provide professional status for them.
- University teachers have lost tenure and the quality of their teaching and research is regularly assessed by independent bodies.
- Newly divorced and up for tenure at Washington State University, she was faced with trying to eke out a living for herself and her two daughters on an assistant professor's salary.
verb [with object]
1Give (someone) a permanent post, especially as a teacher or lecturer: I had recently been tenured and then promoted to full professor...
- And we question the justness of tenuring him, certainly of the size of his salary and administrative reach.
- If her take on hiring practices is right, Emory isn't going to be tenuring anyone in this area of interest anytime soon.
- Buchanan was driven out in part by not tenuring his junior colleagues.
1.1 (as adjective tenured) Having or denoting a permanent academic post: a tenured academic appointment...
- Well, I am a biblical scholar - complete with tenured academic post - and I think your analysis is convincing.
- Tenured faculty were facing retirement without the assurance that new generations of tenured academic citizens would take their places.
- Publication success is often a key factor in deciding whether an academic wins research grants or is offered a tenured post at a university.
Phrases
security of tenure
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, from tenir 'to hold', from Latin tenere.