limbo

1 of 2

noun (1)

lim·​bo ˈlim-(ˌ)bō 

plural limbos

1

often Limbo : an abode of souls that are according to Roman Catholic theology barred from heaven because of not having received Christian baptism

2

a

: a place or state of restraint or confinement

… trapping travelers in an airless limbo.

—Sam Boal

b

: a place or state of neglect or oblivion

proposals kept in limbo

c

: an intermediate or transitional place or state

… the adolescent occupies a special human limbo.

—New Republic

d

: a state of uncertainty

The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next.

limbo

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural limbos

: a dance or contest that involves bending over backwards and passing under a horizontal pole lowered slightly for each successive pass

Examples of limbo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Others still have ended up in a legal limbo as the courts decide their new path, much like Royal Romance. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026

Booking platforms have been collating user data to create more effective suggestions for travelers stuck in transit or in ticket planning limbo. —Sydney Goh, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026

Willy’s world never comes into being onstage, and the rest of the cast seems to wander in the limbo that’s left behind. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

After more than two months of limbo for families, UNC Health ultimately reached an agreement in mid-March with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which runs the plan. —Andrew Jones, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, ablative of limbus limbo, from Latin, border

Noun (2)

English of Trinidad & Barbados; akin to Jamaican English limba to bend, from English limber entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing limbo

• gumbo-limbo
• in limbo

Kids Definition

limbo

1 of 2 noun

lim·​bo ˈlim-bō 

plural limbos

1

often capitalized : a place for souls (as of unbaptized infants) believed to be barred from heaven through no fault of their own

2

a

: a place or state of being held or forgotten

b

: a middle place or state

limbo

2 of 2 noun

: a dance or contest that involves bending backward and passing under a horizontal pole

Etymology

Noun

Middle English limbo "a place for souls," derived from Latin limbus (same meaning), from earlier limbus "border"

Noun

from the English of Trinidad and Barbados limbo "a dance that involves bending backwards under a pole," related to Jamaican English limba "to bend," from English limber "flexible"