debenturede·ben·ture /dɪˈbentʃə-ər/abbreviation deb. noun [countableC usually plural]
FINANCE an interest-paying loan which may be traded on bond markets. In Britain, debentures are normally SECURED on particular assets of the borrower, so that the person with the debenture will gain these assets if the loan is not repaid, but in the US they are not normally secured in this way
In April 1999 the company issued $150 million of 25-year debentures.
The company defaulted on (=failed to make interest payments on) $97 million of debentures, but is optimistic that a restructuring agreement can be reached with debtholders.