… 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. 1995Pittsburgh's offensive linemen, trap blockers during Noll's tenure, had to bulk up for the straight-ahead game.—Paul Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated, 9 Nov. 1992A 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.
her 12-year tenure with the company
His tenure in office will end with the next election.
After seven years I was finally granted tenure.
He hopes to get tenure next year.
The defendant did not have tenure on the land.
land tenure in Anglo-Saxon Britain
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Energy affordability is also expected to be central to her tenure, particularly as Georgia families face rising utility costs and the rapid expansion of data centers across the state.—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025 The Duchy of Cornwall is typically passed on to the heir of the throne; King Charles, during his long tenure as Prince of Wales, was previously in charge of the estate, which includes houses, farms, land, and other assets across 130,000 acres spanning 23 counties across England and Wales.—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 Dec. 2025 Previously a renewables advocate, Huebner spent his tenure on the state’s utilities commission fighting to lower ROEs and consumer costs.—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 Under his tenure, Belmont Law built a reputation as a rising program.—Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Dec. 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.
: 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
: 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
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