debenture

noun

de·​ben·​ture di-ˈben-chər How to pronounce debenture (audio)
1
British : a corporate security other than an equity security : bond
2
: a bond backed by the general credit of the issuer rather than a specific lien on particular assets

Examples of debenture in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The skyrocketing stock price is the result of small investors taking advantage of a short squeeze margin-call algorithm to leverage the arbitrage and thus create a classic liquidity debenture. Dave Barry, Washington Post, 26 Dec. 2021 Buying a debenture seat is obviously an attractive investment, particularly given the current volatility of global stock markets and extremely low interest rates? Danielle Rossingh, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2021 Funds from today’s debenture sale will be used for long term financing of the company’s large construction and service expansion in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. NOLA.com, 8 Dec. 2020 Impact on mutual fund industry: The debt funds of many asset management companies (AMCs) took a severe beating as many of them had an exposure to the bonds and non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of the bank. Vatsal Bhandari, Quartz India, 16 Mar. 2020 In July, a key measure of the market’s wariness toward smaller Chinese banks (the yield gap between low- and top-rated non-convertible debentures) surged to as much as six times wider than before the Baoshang takeover. Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2019 In August, a key measure of the market’s wariness toward smaller Chinese banks (the yield gap between low- and top-rated non-convertible debentures) had surged to as much as six times wider than before the Baoshang takeover. Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2019 Get our daily newsletter Around a sixth of seats on Centre Court, where the big-draw matches are played, are reserved for debenture-holders, who pay through the nose for a specific seat for five years. The Economist, 11 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debenture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English debentur, from Latin, they are due, 3rd plural present passive of debēre to owe — more at debt

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of debenture was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near debenture

Cite this Entry

“Debenture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debenture. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

debenture

noun
de·​ben·​ture di-ˈben-chər How to pronounce debenture (audio)
: an unsecured bond that is backed by the issuer's general credit rather than a specific lien

called also debenture bond

see also indenture compare mortgage bond at bond

Note: Debentures are often convertible to stocks.

Etymology

Anglo-French debentour and Medieval Latin debentura, perhaps from Latin debentur they are owed

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