“Tenure” is another word that is often associated with the world of education. This noun has the same roots as the French “tenir,” or “to hold,” and means “holding or possession of a job, status, or position.” Tenure can refer to a specific period of time – for example, “He accomplished a great deal during his tenure as chairman.” In academics, tenure is used to denote an indefinite period of time: a teacher who “gets tenure” has their position guaranteed from then on.

Example: “The organization’s membership list doubled in size during her tenure as president.”