noun · academic
glass ceiling
UK/ˈɡlɑːs ˈsiːlɪŋ/US/ˈɡlæs ˈsiːlɪŋ/GLASS·CEIL·ing
an invisible barrier that prevents certain groups from rising to upper positions
Examples
“Many argue that the glass ceiling still stops qualified women from reaching senior roles.”
“Policies aimed at transparency can help break the glass ceiling in corporate boards.”
“She fought to overcome the glass ceiling and eventually became CEO.”
Band 8 sentence
“Despite legal equality, the glass ceiling persists in many industries, suggesting systemic issues that require structural reforms.”
Collocations
- break the glass ceiling
- face the glass ceiling
Word family
Common mistakes
glass ceiling (translate literally as "trần thủy tinh") in a sentence meaning a physical roof→glass ceiling
the glass sealing→the glass ceiling
Say it for a higher band
5gender barrier→6promotion barrier→7+glass ceiling
Synonyms
promotion barrier
Easily confused
promotion barrier
“Many women encounter a promotion barrier that is hard to explain.”
Related words
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In Work
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