public debt

noun

1. national debt.

public debt

noun

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

2. another name for national debt

Word History and Origins

Origin of public debt¹

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

There are worries that the stimulus plans will weaken Japan’s ability to sustain its already outsized public debt, the economist and currency strategist adds.

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But her policy approach risks exacerbating Japan’s public debt problem, accelerating the yen’s decline, and spiking long-term Japanese interest rates.

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If unprofitable bitcoin miners can raise public debt with the backing of the hyperscalers, then the hyperscalers themselves can undoubtedly do the same.

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“In order to avoid increasing public debt further, the president might have to reduce his ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ tax deductions or find other ways to offset the budget deficit.”

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The former French colony and leading cocoa producer is weighed down by a public debt of around 60 percent of GDP, while huge gaps in education and health coverage remain.

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