tenured
UK: ˈtɛnjʊəd | US: ˈtɛnjərd
adj. granted permanent employment status, especially in academia
vt. granted tenure to (someone)
The word "tenure" originates from Latin tenēre ("to hold"), reflecting the concept of holding a position or right. The suffix -ure forms abstract nouns (e.g., "closure," "pressure"). In medieval Latin, tenura referred to landholding rights, which evolved into the modern academic sense of guaranteed employment. The past participle -ed converts it into an adjective/verb form.
She became a tenured professor after years of research.
The committee voted to tenure him last spring.
Tenured positions provide job security but require rigorous evaluation.
Critics argue the tenured system discourages innovation.
He was tenured early due to his groundbreaking publications.