tenure
gb/tˈɛnjɚ/ us/tˈɛnjɚ/
B2
English
~ 5700
megbízatási idő, eltöltött idő, hivatali idő, véglegesített egyetemi állás, tenure, földbirtoklási rendszer, földhasználati jogviszony, földtulajdoni viszonyok, véglegesít, tenure-t ad
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s tenure as [position]
During her tenure as CEO, the company doubled its profits.
Vezérigazgatói megbízatása alatt a vállalat megduplázta a nyereségét.
His short tenure in office was marked by constant controversy.
Rövid hivatali idejét állandó viták jellemezték.
The coach's tenure with the team ended after three disappointing seasons.
Under the previous mayor's tenure, public transport was greatly improved.
My tenure at that company lasted just over a decade.
Learner examples
During his tenure as manager, sales went up.
Vezetői megbízatása alatt nőttek az eladások.
Her tenure at the firm was only two years.
A cégnél töltött ideje mindössze két év volt.
The president's tenure in office ends next month.
He had a long tenure at the bank.
My tenure at this job has been very positive.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "tenure" with "tenor" (the singing voice or general character of something). "Tenure" is about how long you hold a job or position, not about sound or tone. Some also mis-hear it as "ten year" and think it must mean exactly ten years, which is incorrect.
Meaning
time in a job or office
Collocations
during his tenure
|tenure in office
|tenure as CEO
|long tenure
|short tenure
|two-year tenure
Synonyms
term (Often used for fixed periods in office, such as political roles; slightly more formal and specific to official positions.)
|
stint (Informal and often suggests a relatively short or temporary period of work.)
Antonyms
vacancy (Refers to the absence of a person in a position, the opposite of a period when someone actively holds it.)
Themes
work
|business
|politics
|time
Definition
The time that a person has a job or an important position.
The period of time during which someone holds a job, role, or official position.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
to get tenure at [institution]
After seven years on the tenure track, she finally got tenure.
Hét év tenure track után végre véglegesített egyetemi állást kapott.
The university denied him tenure after a negative tenure review.
A negatív tenure-értékelés után az egyetem nem véglegesítette az állását.
Once you have tenure, it is very difficult for the university to fire you.
Departments meet each spring to decide which candidates will be recommended for tenure.
Many young academics move between institutions before they secure tenure.
Learner examples
She worked very hard to get tenure.
Nagyon keményen dolgozott azért, hogy véglegesített egyetemi állást kapjon.
He is on the tenure track at a large university.
Egy nagy egyetemen tenure track pozícióban dolgozik.
The school gave her tenure after six years.
If the tenure committee says no, he may lose his job.
Tenure gives professors strong job security.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "tenure" in this sense is used for any permanent job. In modern English it is mainly used for university and some school jobs, not for regular office or factory work. Use phrases like "permanent job" or "full-time contract" instead in those cases.
Meaning
permanent academic job status
Collocations
get tenure
|grant tenure
|tenure track
|tenure review
|tenure committee
|tenured faculty
Synonyms
permanent appointment (More general and formal; can refer to any long-term job, not only academic posts.)
|
job security (Describes the broader idea of safety from losing a job, not the specific legal status of tenure.)
Antonyms
probation (Refers to a trial period when a worker does not yet have job security, the opposite of the protection that tenure gives.)
Themes
education
|work
|law
Definition
A special job status in a university or school that means a teacher has a permanent job and cannot easily be fired.
A status given to a professor or teacher that provides a permanent position and strong protection against being dismissed.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
land tenure in [place]
The report examines land tenure in rural communities.
A jelentés a vidéki közösségek földbirtoklási viszonyait vizsgálja.
Reforming land tenure is key to reducing conflict over resources.
A földbirtoklási rendszer reformja kulcsfontosságú az erőforrások miatti konfliktusok csökkentéséhez.
Under feudal tenure, peasants were tied to the land they farmed.
Tenants demanded greater security of tenure in their housing.
Different forms of tenure exist side by side, including customary and statutory systems.
Learner examples
The government changed the land tenure system.
A kormány megváltoztatta a földbirtoklási rendszert.
Poor land tenure can lead to conflicts.
A rendezetlen földtulajdoni viszonyok konfliktusokhoz vezethetnek.
Farmers asked for better security of tenure.
Under this tenure, people can live on the land but not sell it.
Land tenure laws are different in each country.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the more common job-related meanings. When you see "land tenure" or "security of tenure" in a housing or farming context, it refers to legal rights to land, not to a job or office.
Meaning
legal way land is held
Collocations
land tenure
|security of tenure
|feudal tenure
|leasehold tenure
|customary tenure
|tenure system
Synonyms
landholding system (More explicit and slightly more technical; focuses on the system rather than the legal relationship.)
|
occupancy rights (Emphasizes the rights of the person living on or using the land, not the full legal structure.)
Antonyms
dispossession (Refers to being removed from land or losing rights to it, the opposite of having secure tenure.)
Themes
law
|real estate
|history
|housing
Definition
The legal rules that say how a person can hold or use land or a building.
The legal system or conditions under which land or property is owned, used, or occupied.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
4
véglegesít
B2
tenure-t ad
C1
Usage pattern:
to tenure [someone] at [institution]
She was tenured at the university after an extensive review.
Alapos elbírálás után véglegesítették az egyetemen.
Only a small number of junior faculty will be tenured this year.
Idén csak kevés fiatal oktatót fognak véglegesíteni.
He was tenured in 2019 and promoted to associate professor.
Once you are tenured, it is rare to be let go for performance reasons.
Newly tenured professors are expected to take on more service duties.
Learner examples
He was tenured at the university last year.
Tavaly véglegesítették az egyetemen.
Only a few teachers are tenured each year.
Évente csak néhány oktatót véglegesítenek.
She hopes the school will tenure her soon.
After many years, the college finally tenured him.
Once you are tenured, your job is more secure.
Common mistake:
Learners may think the verb "tenure" is common in everyday English. In fact, the passive form "be tenured" is mainly used in academic contexts, and many speakers prefer the phrase "be granted tenure" instead.
Meaning
to give academic tenure
Collocations
was tenured at
|was tenured in 2018
|newly tenured professor
|tenured last year
|tenured faculty
Synonyms
grant tenure to (A more explicit phrase often used instead of the verb "tenure" itself; slightly more formal and clearer for non-specialists.)
Antonyms
dismiss (Means to remove someone from a job; the opposite result of granting tenure, which protects against dismissal.)
Themes
education
|work
Definition
To give a teacher or professor a permanent job at a university or school, so they cannot easily be fired.
To grant an academic employee the status of tenure, making their position permanent and strongly protected.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tenure
IPA
GB/tˈɛnjɚ/
US/tˈɛnjɚ/
Syllables & stress
ten - ure (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ten)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tenure
- Plural: tenure
Verb
- Base: tenure
- 3rd Person Singular: tenures
- Present Participle: tenuring
- Past: tenured
Word family
Forms
tenures
verb
tenuring
verb
tenured
verb
Related words
tenant
noun A2
tenancy
noun
Negative and opposite forms
untenured
adjective
Expressions
get tenure
1/ɡˈɛt tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
receive academic tenure
To be given a permanent university job with strong job protection.
Examples
- If she does not get tenure, she may have to change careers.
- He finally got tenure after years of publishing and teaching.
- Most assistant professors hope to get tenure within six or seven years.
grant tenure
1/ɡɹˈænt tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
institution gives someone tenure
For a university or school to give a teacher or professor a permanent job.
Examples
- The university decided not to grant tenure to three candidates.
- Only the board of trustees can grant tenure at this institution.
- Schools are often cautious about granting tenure, because it is hard to reverse.
land tenure
1/lˈænd tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
system of legal land holding
The legal rules about who can use land and how they can use it.
Examples
- Reforming land tenure is central to the government's rural policy.
- Unclear land tenure often leads to disputes between farmers.
- The study compares land tenure systems in three countries.
lifetime tenure
1/lˈaɪftˌaɪm tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
tenure that lasts for life
A job situation where a person keeps their position for their whole life, unless something very serious happens.
Examples
- Some judges enjoy lifetime tenure under the constitution.
- Critics argue that lifetime tenure makes officials less accountable.
- The position traditionally came with lifetime tenure and a generous pension.
lose tenure
1/lˈuz tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
have tenure taken away
To stop having a permanent university job, usually for very serious reasons.
Examples
- Professors rarely lose tenure, except in cases of serious misconduct.
- He was afraid he might lose tenure if the accusations were proven.
- The committee can recommend that a faculty member lose tenure, but the board makes the final decision.
security of tenure
1/sɪkjˈʊɹɪti əv tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
legal protection against removal
Strong legal protection that makes it hard to remove someone from their job or home.
Examples
- Tenants called for greater security of tenure in rental housing.
- Judges are given security of tenure to protect their independence.
- The new law reduces security of tenure for many public employees.
tenure committee
1/tˈɛnjɚ kəmˈɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
group deciding on tenure cases
A group of professors or leaders who decide if someone should get tenure.
Examples
- The tenure committee meets every spring to review candidates.
- She is worried about how the tenure committee will view her teaching record.
- Serving on the tenure committee is a major responsibility.
tenure review
1/tˈɛnjɚ ɹɪvjˈu/
fixed phrase
technical
evaluation before granting tenure
A formal check of a teacher's work to decide if they will get tenure.
Examples
- Her tenure review will take place next semester.
- The tenure review looks at research, teaching, and service.
- He is preparing his file for tenure review.
tenure track
1/tˈɛnjɚ tɹˈæk/
fixed phrase
technical
academic path leading to tenure
A job path at a university where, after some years and good work, a teacher may get tenure.
Examples
- She accepted a tenure track position at a major research university.
- After five years on the tenure track, he is starting his tenure review.
- Many young scholars struggle to find tenure track jobs.
tenured professor
1/tˈɛnjɚd pɹəfˈɛsɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
professor who has tenure
A university teacher who already has a permanent job with strong protection.
Examples
- Only tenured professors can vote on hiring decisions.
- She became a tenured professor at the age of 35.
- Tenured professors often mentor younger colleagues.
up for tenure
1/ˈʌp fɚ tˈɛnjɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
being considered for tenure
Being in the process where a university decides if you will get tenure.
Examples
- She is up for tenure next year and is very nervous.
- Three professors are up for tenure this spring.
- Being up for tenure can be a very stressful time.