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Synonyms

deficit spending

American  

noun

  1. the practice of spending funds in excess of income, especially by a government.


Etymology

Origin of deficit spending

First recorded in 1935–40

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:

Double-digit raises have been promised to union workers by a school system that for months has proclaimed that it is in dire financial straits, trapped in deficit spending and facing potential insolvency in four years.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 15, 2026

That translates to higher costs for new mortgages and car loans, corporate borrowing and U.S. deficit spending.

From MarketWatch Apr. 8, 2026

“Current deficit spending as a percent of GDP of 5.2% would be 6.1% without tariff revenue,” says Bill Merz, head of capital markets research at U.S.

From Barron's Feb. 26, 2026

The dollar has broadly weakened, in part because planned tax cuts and other policies are fueling fears about deficit spending.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 29, 2025

Failure to reach agreement with multilateral lenders in late 1995 led to rising deficit spending and subsequently increasing inflation and a drop in the value of the Haitian currency in the final months of 1995.

From The 1996 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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