# gilt

/ˈɡɪɫt/ (US) · /ɡˈɪlt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gilt
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. government bond

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a type of investment or bond issued by the British government.

For teachers: a high-grade investment security, specifically a bond issued by the UK government.

- Many investors buy gilts because they are considered a very safe investment.
- Market analysts observed a sharp rise in gilt yields following the central bank's announcement regarding interest rate adjustments.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'gilts' when referring to the market or multiple securities.

### 3. young female pig

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Dialect

a young female pig that has not yet had babies.

For teachers: a young female domestic pig, typically one that has not yet farrowed.

- The farmer kept the healthiest gilt to join the breeding herd next year.
- The livestock judge evaluated the gilt based on her physical structure and potential for future reproductive success.

### 5. gold-coloured

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having the colour of gold or covered in a thin layer of gold.

For teachers: covered with gold leaf or gold-coloured pigment; golden in appearance.

- The sun set behind the hills, giving the clouds a beautiful gilt edge.
- The library was filled with gilt-edged volumes that shimmered under the soft glow of the chandeliers.

## Examples

- Many investors buy gilts because they are very safe.
- When the economy is uncertain, investors often move their money into gilts to protect their capital.
- The sudden rise in interest rates caused the market value of long-term gilts to drop significantly, affecting pension fund portfolios across the country.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.