Definition of tenure

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< tenuous

tenured >

ten·ure    (tnyr, -yr) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 1. The act, fact, or condition of holding something in one's possession, as real estate or an office; occupation.
   2. A period during which something is held.
2. The status of holding one's position on a permanent basis without periodic contract renewals: a teacher granted tenure on a faculty.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French teneure, from tenir, to hold, from Latin tenre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
ten·uri·al  (-yr-l) KEY (Adjective), ten·uri·al·ly(Adverb)