Legal Definitions - tenure

Tenure is a legal term that refers to a person's right to use something for a specific period of time. In the past, it was used to describe the arrangements between lords and tenants where the tenants provided service in exchange for the use of land. Today, it has broader meanings.

• A judge who has lifetime tenure cannot be fired except for extreme circumstances.
• After working for a certain amount of time, teachers often receive tenure, which means they cannot be fired without a valid reason.
• A person who rents an apartment has tenure for the duration of their lease agreement.

These examples illustrate how tenure can refer to a person's right to use something for a specific period of time. In the case of judges and teachers, it also refers to their job security and the difficulty of firing them. In the case of renting an apartment, it refers to the duration of the lease agreement.