national debt

American  

noun

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

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national debt British  

noun

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

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national debt Cultural  

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

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

Etymology

Origin of national debt

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

If we advertise that right and stream it in primetime, we might be able to settle the national debt.

From Salon • Jun. 19, 2026

Massie is a throwback libertarian who, in lieu of the standard lawmaker flag pin, wears on his lapel a national debt clock that he programmed himself.

From Slate • May 19, 2026

The official U.S. national debt is now equal to 100% of annual gross domestic product and is expected to rise to 120% by 2036.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

Reaching an annual deficit at or below 3% of GDP would stabilize and then gradually reduce the national debt as a share of GDP.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

A reasonable estimate of the additional costs for capitalizing a gradual emancipation program would have increased the national debt to about $125 million.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis