debt

noun

ˈdet How to pronounce debt (audio)
Synonyms of debtnext
1
: something owed : obligation
unable to pay off his debts
owe them a debt of gratitude
a criminal's debt to society
2
: a state of being under obligation to pay or repay someone or something in return for something received : a state of owing
deeply in debt to creditors
3
law and business : the common-law action for the recovery of money held to be due
4
: sin, trespass
Forgive us our debts.
debtless
ˈdet-ləs How to pronounce debt (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of debt in a Sentence

He is trying to pay off gambling debts. The company has run up huge debts. Their debts are piling up. He's been working three jobs in an attempt to get out of debt. The company was in debt but is now turning a profit. I am deep in debt. I'm thousands of dollars in debt. She went into debt to pay for college. I'm worried that we will fall into debt.
Recent Examples on the Web But amid no track record of streaming profits at Hollywood giants and WBD’s need to pay down debt and manage costs, some wonder about the future of streaming profits. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024 House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said recently that the package could be put to a vote next week but it is expected to face revisions, such as perhaps providing the money as a loan, which would add to Ukraine’s already huge debt. —Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024 Chinese financial institutions are believed to have rescheduled payments for about $2 billion in those debts since 2020, helping Laos to avoid an outright default and relieving some pressure on the economy. —Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 5 Apr. 2024 And low- and middle-income households are feeling the strains of record credit card debt. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024 The company may be pursuing a sale to help raise cash to help pay off ongoing real estate debts. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024 That leaves Saudi Arabia having to borrow on capital markets to fulfill its ambitions: Government debt has soared about 20-fold, to $253.6 billion, since 2014, according to research firm CEIC Data. —Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024 The bankruptcy filing says Updike is unemployed and has debts of more than $250,000, with assets of less than $15,000. —Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024 Local governments borrow money from Wall Street by selling bonds, then use property taxes to pay back the debt over decades. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dette, debte, from Anglo-French dette something owed, from Vulgar Latin *debita, from Latin, plural of debitum debt, from neuter of debitus, past participle of debēre to owe, from de- + habēre to have — more at give

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of debt was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing debt

Dictionary Entries Near debt

Debs

debt

debt book

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debt. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

debt

noun
ˈdet How to pronounce debt (audio)
1
: sin entry 1 sense 1, trespass
2
: something owed to another : a thing or amount due
pay a debt of $10
3
: a condition of owing
hopelessly in debt

Legal Definition

debt

noun
1
: something owed: as
a
: a specific sum of money or a performance due another especially by agreement (as a loan agreement)
to pay the debts…of the United States—U.S. Constitution art. I
a debt for alimony
b
: an obligation to pay or perform on another's claim
discharged the debt
compare asset, equity sense 4

Note: It is often up to the courts to decide what is or is not a debt under various laws. Courts disagree whether criminal restitution is a debt under the Bankruptcy Code.

— antecedent debt
: debt that is incurred prior to a property transfer paying or securing the debt compare preference
— bad debt
: a debt that cannot be collected

Note: An income tax deduction is allowed for bad debts.

— consumer debt
: debt that is incurred by an individual primarily for the purchase of consumer goods or services compare consumer credit
— judgment debt
: a debt established by a judgment and enforceable by a legal process (as an execution of judgment or attachment)
c
: a state of owing
in debt
d
: the aggregate of money owed
the national debt
2
: the common-law action for the recovery of a specified sum of money or a sum that can be simply and certainly determined

called also action of debt, writ of debt

compare assumpsit, covenant
Etymology

Old French dette, ultimately from Latin debita, plural of debitum debt, from neuter of debitus, past participle of debere to owe

More from Merriam-Webster on debt

Nglish: Translation of debt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of debt for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about debt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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