GLASS CEILING Definition & Meaning

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glass ceiling

[ glas see-ling ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an upper limit to professional advancement, especially as imposed upon women, minorities, and other nondominant groups, that is not readily perceived or openly acknowledged:
It’s more difficult for women of color to break through the glass ceiling.

glass ceiling

noun

a situation in which progress, esp promotion, appears to be possible but restrictions or discrimination create a barrier that prevents it

glass ceiling

An unacknowledged — and ultimately illegal — barrier to advancement, especially for women and people of color: “In many professions a woman cannot break through the glass ceiling to the upper level of management.” The term dates from the 1980s.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of glass ceiling¹

First recorded in 1980–85

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Idioms and Phrases

An unacknowledged discriminatory barrier to advancement, especially for women and minorities. For example, Harriet knew she'd never be promoted—she would never get through the glass ceiling . [1980s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Emery runs the show and they have been the beneficiaries as they broke the Premier League's glass ceiling to reach the top four last season, following that up with an outstanding Champions League campaign.

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Big-haired, short-skirted and glamorous women in sky-high stilettos, they have sky-high dreams in an industry capped by a nearly unbreakable glass ceiling.

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"For a majority of workers with limited skills, there is a glass ceiling. Even if you work 14 hours a day you cannot save enough to build a house or start a family."

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If it’s glamour you’re after, check out the Wolves downtown, which offers affordable cocktails on par with the real thing under a historic domed stained glass ceiling.

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Might she venture to break through Sacramento’s ultimate glass ceiling?

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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