public debt

American  

noun

1. national debt.

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public debt British  

noun

1. the total financial obligations incurred by all governmental bodies of a nation

2. another name for national debt

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Etymology

Origin of public debt

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public debt

He served as director general of the French Treasury between 2020 and 2024, overseeing economic policy and public debt.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

High levels of public debt also have been part of the problem, including in the U.S., where the federal debt is back above 100% of gross domestic product, or larger than the economy.

From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026

With a public debt load estimated as high as $170 billion, Venezuela’s restructuring promises to be one of the largest and most complex efforts to renegotiate sovereign debt, economists say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

The amount of interest government pays on existing public debt is linked to inflation and interest rates on bonds.

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

I find a large public debt and foresee further financial difficulties.

From Critical Studies by Ouida