Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
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.

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

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

“Our economy has been fueled by large amounts of government deficit spending and past stimulus and that increased expenditure on infrastructure remains a growing need,” Dimon says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 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

Head teacher Dan Crossman says the school is in an in-year deficit, spending more money than it has got coming in.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

In 2001, during a civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty.

From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency