debt

American  

[det] / dɛt /

noun

1. something that is owed or that one is bound to pay to or perform for another.

   a debt of $50.

   Synonyms:

   due, duty, obligation

2. a liability or obligation to pay or render something.

   My debt to her for advice is not to be discharged easily.

3. the condition of being under such an obligation.

   His gambling losses put him deeply in debt.

4. Theology. an offense requiring reparation; a sin; a trespass.

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debt British  

/ dɛt /

noun

1. something that is owed, such as money, goods, or services

2. a debt that has little or no prospect of being paid

3. an obligation to pay or perform something; liability

4. the state of owing something, esp money, or of being under an obligation (esp in the phrases in debt, in ( someone's ) debt )

5. a temporary failure to maintain the necessary supply of something

   sleep debt

   oxygen debt

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debt Cultural  

1. Money, goods, or services owed by an individual, firm, or government to another individual, firm, or government.

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debt Idioms  

1. see head over heels (in debt).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superdebt
  noun
• debtless
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

People who had carefully planned their retirement, and had expected to clear mortgage debt or car finance, were left with no lump sum and no income.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Their debt, they say, has jumped from $20,000 to about $150,000.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

The plan will enable them to pay off the debt held by the Rowlings, retain control of the resort and support its long-term future, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

We thought we found the perfect luxury retirement community, but it’s millions of dollars in debt.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

I had never released anyone from a debt of this magnitude before, and it took me a moment to get the words out.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• arrears
• bill
• capital
• commitment
• credit
• damage
• deficit
• due
• indebtedness
• liability
• mortgage
• obligation
• price tag
• receipt