ETYM French tenure, Old Fren. teneure, from French tenir to hold. Related to Tenable.
1. The right to hold property; part of an ancient hierarchical system of holding lands; SYN. land tenure.
2. The term during which some position is held; SYN. term of office, incumbency.
Employment terms and conditions. Security of tenure is often granted to the judiciary, civil servants, educators, and others in public office, where impartiality and freedom from political control are considered necessary.
The length of tenure depends on the service involved, and termination of it would only occur in exceptional cases, such as serious misconduct.

To give life-time employment to; as of university posts