tenure

/ˈtɛn.jʊə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: tenures · tenuring · tenured

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A status of possessing a thing or an office; an incumbency.

Noun

Examples

All that seems thine own, / Held by the tenure of his will alone.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A period of time during which something is possessed.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To grant tenure, the status of having a permanent academic position, to (someone).

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “tenure” mean?

A status of possessing a thing or an office; an incumbency.

Is “tenure” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.