debt
Americannoun
-
debts
plural
-
something that is owed or that one is bound to pay to or perform for another.
a debt of $50.
- Synonyms:
- due, duty, obligation
-
a liability or obligation to pay or render something.
My debt to her for advice is not to be discharged easily.
-
the condition of being under such an obligation.
His gambling losses put him deeply in debt.
-
Theology. an offense requiring reparation; a sin; a trespass.
noun
-
something that is owed, such as money, goods, or services
-
a debt that has little or no prospect of being paid
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an obligation to pay or perform something; liability
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the state of owing something, esp money, or of being under an obligation (esp in the phrases in debt, in ( someone's ) debt )
-
a temporary failure to maintain the necessary supply of something
sleep debt
oxygen debt
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of debt
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English dette, from Old French, from Latin dēbita (neuter plural, taken in Vulgar Latin as feminine singular), noun use of dēbitus “owed,” past participle of dēbēre “to owe,” contraction of dēhabēre (unrecorded), from dē- de- + habēre “to have”
Explanation
The noun debt refers to an obligation to pay for or do something. If you get arrested for stealing, serving time in jail is the way to repay your debt to society. Debt comes from the Latin word debitum, which means "thing owed." Often, a debt is money that you must repay someone. Debt can also mean the state of owing something — if you borrow twenty dollars from your brother, you are in debt to him until you pay him back. If someone says, "I owe you a debt of gratitude," it means you have done something great and that person intends to do something to "repay" your kindness.
Vocabulary lists containing debt
Material World: Shopping Lingo
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The Great Depression and The New Deal
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Economics
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The government is grappling with ways to find solutions but is constrained by France's gigantic debt pile which is already spooking markets.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2026
As well as overall debt repayments of around £300 a month, he and his wife pay £760 on their mortgage.
From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026
AI debt issuance this year smashed Wall Street’s supply expectations, swamped investor portfolios and disappointed from a performance perspective.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
That debt is also listed as disputed by Rice, who was not suspended by the NFL following Jones’ allegations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
But she only complained that I’d burn up all the lamp oil, which would drive up our debt to Mrs. Wigginbottom again.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Net worth is a measure of a household’s assets minus debts — reflecting the value of what they own, which has the potential to compound in value.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 7, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, claiming nearly $3.5 million in debts to just over $677,000 in assets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
London-based Xyra Group has offered to pay off half of Poundland's outstanding debts - a key sticking point in takeover talks so far - immediately.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
The investment pledges come amid a surge in borrowing costs, which have raised concerns about some companies' financial positions owing to their huge debts, adding downward pressure to stock prices.
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026
“Speaking of paying off debts. I had an idea. What if I were to go to college so that I could get a better job and help pay off your debts faster?”
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
