public debt

American  

noun

1. national debt.

---

public debt British  

noun

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

2. another name for national debt

---

Etymology

Origin of public debt

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

public debt

Burnham, an MP between 2001 and 2017, has little room to manoeuvre amid high public debt and strict financial rules requiring him to balance government spending against tax revenue.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

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

It added that it expects to present a macroeconomic framework and public debt sustainability analysis next month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

The heaviest appropriation goes to pay the interest on the public debt, which requires $150,000,000.

From Sketches of Reforms and Reformers, of Great Britain and Ireland by Stanton, Henry B.