The "Limbo of the Patriarchs" or "Limbo of the Fathers" (Latin limbus patrum) is seen as the temporary state of those who, despite the sins they may have committed, died in the friendship of God but could not enter heaven until redemption by Jesus Christ made it possible.

often capitalized : an abode of souls that are according to Roman Catholic theology barred from heaven because of not having received Christian baptism. The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next.

Limbo is the theological belief that children who die before being baptized are suspended in a space between heaven and hell. In 1905 Pope Pius X declared that children who die without …

Jul 1, 2025 · The word is of Teutonic origin, meaning “border” or “anything joined on.” The concept of limbo probably developed in Europe in the Middle Ages but was never defined as a church dogma, and reference to it was omitted from the official catechism of …

Jul 13, 2025 · limbo m (plural limbo's, diminutive limbootje n) Limbo, in-between place, state or condition of neglect or oblivion which results in an unresolved status, delay or deadlock

If you say that someone or something is in limbo, you mean that they are in a situation where they seem to be caught between two stages and it is unclear what will happen next. The negotiations have been in limbo since mid-December.

It describes a state of being disregarded, forgotten or put on the side, often awaiting a decision or resolution.

in limbo in a state of uncertainty, neglected, up in the air, in abeyance, betwixt and between, not knowing whether one is coming or going (informal) I felt as though I was in limbo.

Definition of limbo noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Factsheet What does the noun limbo mean? There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun limbo. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.