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

See Examples For:

national debt

That was the revelation that the national debt had reached $40 trillion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

Treasurys already were under pressure when the national debt hit $40 trillion in August.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Chaves has said the cuts are part of a plan to address the national debt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

As MarketWatch reported earlier, Bank of America’s chief equity strategist expects the U.S. national debt to reach $50 trillion in three years, which could spell more pain for investors in bonds.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 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