glass ceiling

American  

[glas see-ling] / ˈglæs ˈsi lɪŋ /

noun

glass ceilings plural

1. 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.

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glass ceiling British  

noun

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

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glass ceiling Cultural  

1. 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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glass ceiling Idioms  

1. 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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• glass ceilings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of glass ceiling

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Party insiders say the two are "complementary", each appealing to different sectors of the population and the combination potentially allowing the RN to break through its glass ceiling and finally win power.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026

Whatever it takes to crash through that World Cup glass ceiling.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

“Breaking that glass ceiling, that’s special to me,” Ng said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

The 48-year-old has plenty to ponder on whether he has hit a glass ceiling on Tyneside.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

The dorms are quiet, save for the pounding of rain against our atrium’s glass ceiling.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu