tenure

noun

ten·​ure ˈten-yər How to pronounce tenure (audio)
 also  -ˌyu̇r
Synonyms of tenurenext
1
: the act, right, manner, or term of holding something (such as a landed property, a position, or an office)
especially : a status granted after a trial period to a teacher that gives protection from summary dismissal
2
: grasp, hold
tenurable
ˈten-yər-ə-bəl How to pronounce tenure (audio)
adjective
tenurial
te-ˈnyu̇r-ē-əl How to pronounce tenure (audio)
adjective
tenurially
te-ˈnyu̇r-ē-ə-lē How to pronounce tenure (audio)
adverb

Synonyms

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Examples of tenure in a Sentence

… but there is also about it just the trace of the nettlesome righteousness that alienated much of Washington during his tenure there, the not-so-subtle suggestion that while he might be in politics, he is not of politics and certainly not, God forbid, a politician. — Jim Wooten, New York Times Magazine, 29 Jan. 1995
Pittsburgh's offensive linemen, trap blockers during Noll's tenure, had to bulk up for the straight-ahead game. — Paul Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated, 9 Nov. 1992
A mural on the upper half of a four-story guesthouse was painted in 1977 by twelve-year-old schoolchildren, whose tenure on the scaffold must have thrilled their parents. — John McPhee, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 1988
During his tenure as head coach, the team won the championship twice.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Donatella has long been the driving force behind Versace, remaining a hands-on designer throughout her tenure. — Becca Longmire, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025 The announcement came three months after Intel’s board ousted Pat Gelsinger from the post following a troubled four-year tenure. — Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025 The committee was chaired by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Senator Joe Biden of Delaware during her tenure. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 Lewandowski, a longtime Noem advisor going back to her tenure as South Dakota governor, mentioned him in a post on X as part of the team that helped elect Landry. — Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tenure

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "possession of land under obligation to a superior, the land so held," borrowed from Anglo-French tenure, teneure, going back to Gallo-Romance *tenitūra "act of possessing," from Latin ten-, base of tenēre "to hold, possess" + -it-, generalized from past participles ending in -itus + -ūra -ure — more at tenant entry 1

Note: A number of renderings of the word in Medieval Latin from the 11th century on (as tenetura, tenatura, tentura, tenura, etc.) may reflect stages in the passage from Latin to French or attempts to Latinize a vernacular form.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenure was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing tenure

Rhymes for tenure

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Browse Nearby Words

tenure
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Cite this Entry

“Tenure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenure. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

tenure

noun
ten·​ure ˈten-yər How to pronounce tenure (audio)
: the act, right, manner, or term of holding something (as property, a position, or an office)
especially : a status granted after a trial period to a teacher that gives protection from dismissal except for serious cause determined by formal proceedings
tenurial
te-ˈnyu̇r-ē-əl
adjective

Legal Definition

tenure

noun
ten·​ure ˈten-yər How to pronounce tenure (audio)
1
: the act, manner, duration, or right of holding something
tenure of office
specifically : the manner of holding real property : the title and conditions by which property is held
freehold tenure
2
: a status granted to a teacher usually after a probationary period that protects him or her from dismissal except for reasons of incompetence, gross misconduct, or financial necessity
tenurial
te-ˈnyu̇r-ē-əl How to pronounce tenure (audio)
adjective
tenurially
-ə-lē How to pronounce tenure (audio)
adverb
Etymology

Anglo-French, feudal holding, from Old French teneüre, from Medieval Latin tenitura, ultimately from Latin tenēre to hold

More from Merriam-Webster on tenure

Nglish: Translation of tenure for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tenure

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