A debenture is a long-term loan that a company borrows from the public, usually with a fixed interest rate and a specified repayment date. It is a form of a bond that is not backed by any specific asset or collateral. Debentures are considered long-term liabilities on the company's balance sheet, meaning that they will be paid off over a period of several years. In summary, debentures are a type of long-term loan that a company takes out to finance its operations, and they are classified as long-term liabilities on the balance sheet.