debenture

Meaning

1. A certificate that certifies an amount of money owed to someone; a certificate of indebtedness.
2. (obsolete) A certificate of a loan made to the government; a government bond.
3. (US) 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.
4. (UK) 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.

Synonyms

bond

debenture bond

unsecured bond

obligation

proof of indebtedness

debt issue

charge

debt security

customs debenture

debentures stock

debenture trust deed

bonds

homology

note of hand

promissory note

voucher

debenture bonds

Translations

obligation

obligación

bono

Obligation

Schuldschein

debenture

debênture

tahvil

senet

obbligazione

Schuldverschreibung

ομολογία χρέους

Pfandbrief

ομόλογο

γραμμάτιο

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪˈbɛntjʊə/

Etymology

Originally debentur, from Latin debentur (“there are owing”), supposedly the first word of such a document in early times.