A debenture is a financial or legal document connected with debt. In one common sense, it refers to a type of bond, usually unsecurednot backed by property or other assets if repayment fails. In another sense, it can mean a certificatean official paper proving something or recording a right that records a debt or claima demand for money or recognition that is owed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dih-BEN-chur/
Easy pronunciation: dih-BEN-chur (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress falls on the second syllable: BEN.
Financial sense: an unsecured bond, not backed by specific assets.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Debenture Meaning
a type of loan bond that is not secured by property
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a bond that is not backed by specific assets as security
Example: The company raised money by issuing debentures to investors.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- debenture bond — A direct sense match for this financial instrument.
- unsecured bond — A close and practical synonym for this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Debenture
Meaning 2
a paper or document that shows someone is owed money
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt
Example: The office issued a debenture confirming the amount owed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Debenture Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- debenture bond
- unsecured bond
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse debenture with any loan or any share certificate, but it specifically refers to a debt instrument or debt acknowledgment.
- In everyday business use, debenture usually does not mean a secured bond.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does debenture mean in simple words?
A debenture is a debt-related document or bond, often an unsecured one.
Is a debenture the same as a bond?
Not always. A debenture is often a type of bond, especially an unsecured bond.
What is the difference between the two senses of debenture?
One sense is a kind of unsecured bond. The other is a certificate or voucher that acknowledges a debt.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.