limbo

1 of 2

noun (1)

lim·​bo ˈlim-(ˌ)bō 

plural limbos

1

often capitalized : 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

Another batch of tariffs remains in legal limbo following a pair of federal court rulings in May, though the levies remain in place for now. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 July 2025

The decision has left some in an unsettling state of limbo. —Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

School districts nationwide are in a new state of financial limbo after the U.S. Department of Education missed a key deadline to allocate billions of dollars for programs supporting underserved children. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 2 July 2025

But until now, there's not been a viable solution, just promised bots that have been crowd-funded but are still in production limbo. —Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

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"