sufferance

Sufferance is a noun that denotes the endurance or toleration of something undesirable, or the act of allowing something to occur. It can also refer to permission or tolerance given or assumed in a formal sense.

In ordinary usage, sufferance expresses patience or forbearance in the face of hardship. In more formal or archaic contexts, it can imply a specific degree of permission or concession granted by someone in authority.

In legal contexts, the term tenancy at sufferance describes a situation in which a person continues to occupy leased premises after the lease has expired, without the landlord's consent. The occupant remains in possession without a new tenancy, and the landlord may seek eviction. Depending on jurisdiction, the holding over may, over time, lead to the creation of a new tenancy or revert to other arrangements.

Etymology-wise, the word derives from Old French souffrance, from Latin sufferentia, reflecting notions of bearing, enduring, or tolerating. Today, its everyday use is relatively limited and is primarily encountered in historical, legal, or formal writing.

Related concepts include forbearance, tolerance, and endurance. In law, the specific form of tenancy at sufferance is one of several ways to describe occupancy that follows the expiration of a lease.