national debt

noun

1. the financial obligations of a national government resulting from deficit spending.

national debt

noun

1. Also called (esp US): public debt. the total outstanding borrowings of a nation's central government

national debt

1. The debt of the government; the amount of borrowing by the government to meet expenditures exceeding tax revenues.

A large national debt can inhibit growth and drive up interest rates.

Word History and Origins

Origin of national debt¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85