Sinecure is a noun for a position that yields a comfortable salary or status with little or no actual duties. It implies ease and security, often used pejoratively to contrast with real, demanding work. The term is literary and somewhat archaic, though still understood in scholarly or formal contexts.
"He accepted a sinecure in the ambassador's staff, enjoying a comfortable stipend with minimal responsibilities."
"The professor lamented that his late-career sinecure required almost no teaching or research."
"Some politicians appoint sinecures to allies, securing loyalty without adding real value."
"She criticized the committee for handing out sinecures rather than addressing actual problems in the department."
Sinecure comes from the Middle French sinecure, which derives from the Latin sine cūra, meaning without care. The phrase appears in English in the 16th century, originally describing an ecclesiastical or royal appointment that yielded income with little or no duties. The Latin component sine (“without”) plus cura (“care, concern”) captures the core idea. Over time, the word broadened beyond religious offices to secular positions offering easy pay or status, often with a negative connotation of laziness or inefficiency. It has remained relatively formal and slightly antiquated, frequently found in literary, political, or satirical contexts. Early usage labels such posts as advantageous to derive benefit without burden, and the term has persisted in discussions about bureaucratic appointments, patronage, or cushy, low-effort roles. Modern instances are typically critical or humorous, signaling skepticism about work value versus reward. First known uses appeared in English translations and adaptations of Latin texts, with sustained presence in political and clerical discourse since the Renaissance. In contemporary usage, sinecure retains its ironic edge, suggesting an appointment that is more ceremonial than substantive while still carrying remuneration or prestige.
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Words that rhyme with "Sinecure"
-ure sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as SAHY-ni-kyoor (US) or SAHY-ni-kyə(r) in UK. The word is three syllables: /ˈsaɪ.nə.kjʊər/ (US: ˈsaɪ.nɪˌkjʊər). Emphasize the first syllable, then a lighter second, with the final /kjʊə/ or /kjʊər/ cluster. Mouth position: start with a long /aɪ/ in stressed syllable, relax the jaw for /nə/ or /nɪ/ depending on accent, then round lips for the /kjʊ-ə/ glide. Listen for the subtle y-glide: “sigh-nuh-kyoo-er” in careful speech.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (putting it on the second syllable), pronouncing the second syllable as a full /ni/ instead of a light /nə/ or /nɪ/, and smoothing the final /kjʊər/ into a simple /kjuːɚ/ or /kjʊə/. Correction tips: keep the /ˈsaɪ/ onset, use a short, schwa-like /nə/ in the middle, and practice the final /kjʊər/ as a clear consonant cluster: /kjʊər/. Record yourself and compare to /ˈsaɪ.nə.kjʊər/.
In US, you’ll hear /ˈsaɪ.nə.kjʊər/ with rhotic r and a light /ə/. UK often uses /ˈsaɪ.nɪˌkjʊə/ with more rounded vowel in final syllable and a slightly reduced middle /nɪ/; non-rhotic tendencies may drop the r. Australian tends toward /ˈsaɪ.nə.kjʊə/ with even crisper syllables and a mid-back vowel in /ɪ/ or /ə/. Across accents, the primary variation is the middle vowel quality and the rhoticity of final syllable.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster at the end /kjʊər/ after the /nə/ segment, and the subtle shift between /ɪ/ vs /ə/ in the middle syllable. The stress placement on the first syllable can be tricky for non-native speakers, and the /kj/ blend requires careful tongue positioning to avoid a separate /k/ and /j/ sound. Practice by isolating and then chaining: /ˈsaɪ/ + /nə/ + /kjʊər/.
Note the presence of the /kj/ sequence before the final /ə/ or /ər/. The end is not a long /uː/ but a short, clipped /jʊə/ or /jə/. The tertiary stress falls lightly if you adjust rhythm in fluent speech, but the canonical standard places primary stress on the first syllable. Ensure the middle is reduced to /nə/ or /nɪ/ rather than a full vowel. IPA reference helps: /ˈsaɪ.nə.kjʊər/.
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