glass ceiling

noun

: an intangible barrier within a hierarchy that prevents women or minorities from obtaining upper-level positions

Examples of glass ceiling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nelson Walker, Gregory Gerhard In the 1960s, Jule Campbell shattered glass ceilings, transforming a struggling magazine into a media empire: the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024 To help with this transformation, Emilia enlists the help of Rita (Zoe Saldaña), a frustrated lawyer looking to break through her industry’s glass ceiling. Travis Bean, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 This path, her supporters contend, would shatter glass ceilings and turn the page on the country’s turbulent recent past. Alex Hinton, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024 Linda Martell, a pioneer in the genre, shattered a number of these glass ceilings. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for glass ceiling 

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glass ceiling was in 1984

Dictionary Entries Near glass ceiling

Cite this Entry

“Glass ceiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glass%20ceiling. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

glass ceiling

noun
: an informal limit to how high a position women and minorities can earn in a company
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!