What does "debenture" mean?
A certificate that certifies an amount of money owed to someone; a certificate of indebtedness.
Debenture
noun
noun ·3 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A certificate that certifies an amount of money owed to someone; a certificate of indebtedness.
- Grammar: debenture is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: acceptance, acceptance bill, adjustment bond, annuity bond.
- Useful contrasts: equity, nonconvertible bond, nonconvertible debenture.
- Usage evidence: In the United States, a debenture is a type of long-term debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral.
How to use "debenture"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "debenture" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "debenture" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "debenture" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "debenture" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "debenture" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acceptance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "debenture", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A certificate that certifies an amount of money owed to someone; a certificate of indebtedness.
- 2 a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt wordnet
- 3 A certificate of a loan made to the government; a government bond. obsolete
"Madame Corre, who made the important decisions after her plodding husband had spent hours on the ledger, sold the family debentures and put the money into Dutch decurities."
- 4 the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future wordnet
- 5 A type of debt instrument secured only by the general credit or promise to pay of the issuer, not involving any physical assets or collateral, now commonly issued by large, well established corporations with adequate credit ratings. US
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A document granting lenders a charge over a borrower’s physical assets, giving them a means to collect a debt, as part of a secured loan. UK
"That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In the United States, a debenture is a type of long-term debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "debenture"?
Common synonyms include: acceptance, acceptance bill, adjustment bond, annuity bond, appreciation bond, arrangement.
How do you use "debenture" in a sentence?
In the United States, a debenture is a type of long-term debt instrument not secured by physical assets or collateral.
Etymology
From earlier debentur, from Latin debentur (“they are owing”), supposedly the first word of such a document in early times. The ending was apparently influenced by words in -(t)ure.