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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Discover More

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

Etymology

Origin of national debt

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

national debt

This trust is crucial, particularly given the uncertainty around inflation and as the U.S. deficit remains elevated — and since the U.S. needs help financing its $40 trillion national debt.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

Lennie Kaplan, a former finance official in Alberta, says the province would be expected to take on a share of Canada's national debt, among many other fiscal challenges and responsibilities.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

When I graduated from college in 2005, the national debt was about $8 trillion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

"There's 40 trillion reasons why I would agree with a fiscal conservative," Osborn said, referring to the staggering US national debt, which recently passed the $40 trillion mark.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 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

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