debit

American  

[deb-it] / ˈdɛb ɪt /

noun

1. the recording or an entry of debt in an account.

2. Bookkeeping.

   1. that which is entered in an account as a debt; a recorded item of debt.

   2. any entry or the total shown on the debit side.

   3. the left-hand side of an account on which such entries are made (opposed to credit).

3. an undesirable or disadvantageous feature.

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verb (used with object)

1. to charge with a debt.

   The store debited her account for the purchase.

2. to charge as a debt.

   The store debited the purchase to her account.

3. Bookkeeping. to enter upon the debit side of an account.

debit British  

/ ˈdɛbɪt /

noun

1. 1. acknowledgment of a sum owing by entry on the left side of an account

   2. the left side of an account

   3. an entry on this side

   4. the total of such entries

   5. ( as modifier ) Compare credit

      a debit balance

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verb

1. (tr)

   1. to record (an item) as a debit in an account

   2. to charge (a person or his account) with a debt Compare credit

Other Word Forms

• predebit
  noun
• redebit
  verb (used with object)
• undebited
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of debit

1400–50; late Middle English < Old French < Latin dēbitum something owed; see debt

Explanation

A debit is a payment made or charged, or the notation of the amount charged. Trying to track down the mysterious $2 debit to your bank account is almost never fruitful, but you’re bound to do it anyway. From the Latin debere, meaning “to owe,” and just one i away from its more blunt cousin debt, a debit seems like a little word. But add an s to the end, and those charges really add up. You can use the word debit as a verb — “to debit your account,” or a noun — “the debit on your account,” but either way, a debit means you have less money than you had before!

Example Sentences

Similarly, spending was up 4.8% year over year, according to Bank of America’s credit and debit card data.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Travelers with outstanding reservations and who paid via credit or debit cards will get automatically refunded.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

The latest figures from the industry body UK Finance also show the number of debit card transactions fell by 3.5% in January, while the number of credit card transactions increased by 3.6%.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Kelly came to prefer the debit card, which she still leans more heavily on today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

They were only interested in his debit card.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty