lavender ceiling

American  

[lav-uhn-der see-ling] / ˈlæv ən dər ˈsi lɪŋ /

noun

1. an upper limit to professional advancement imposed upon LGBTQ+ people that is not readily perceived or openly acknowledged.

   He shattered the lavender ceiling when he became the first openly gay black man in the state to be elected to public office.

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Etymology

Origin of lavender ceiling

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

She described ceilings she’d painted in verdant green and soft blue, and highlighted some of her favorite rooms by other designers, including a bathroom by designer Amanda Nisbet with white walls and a lavender ceiling.

From Seattle Times