tenure

The period during which someone holds a job or official position.

• His tenure ended in June.
• During her tenure as director, sales doubled.
• The mayor’s second tenure in office was shorter than his first.

How to use it: tenure as something (Her tenure as mayor lasted eight years.); during someone’s tenure (The company grew during his tenure.)

Similar words: term, term of office

Common phrases: during someone’s tenure, tenure as something, tenure in office

The right of a university teacher to keep their job permanently, except in unusual circumstances.

• She finally got tenure.
• The university awarded tenure to three professors.
• He applied for tenure after six years of teaching.

Similar words: permanent appointment

Common phrases: get tenure, grant tenure, academic tenure

The right to hold land under a system in which a ruler or lord controls it.

• The land was held by feudal tenure.
• Military service was a condition of his tenure.
• The document described the family’s tenure of the estate.

Common phrases: feudal tenure, land tenure, tenure of land

To give a university teacher the right to keep their job permanently.

• The university decided to tenure her.
• They tenured two professors last year.
• The department rarely tenures staff so early in their careers.

Common phrases: tenure a professor, tenure someone