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

Overall public debt is the equivalent of around 200% of GDP, the highest among major economies after decades of deficit spending to combat deflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

“Suppose the sovereign remains solvent and its debt remains safe. Can a larger stock of safe public debt nevertheless become a drag on aggregate demand?”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Treasurys toward alternative assets amid uncertainty clouding the fixed income market and growing concerns about the sustainability of U.S. public debt, XS.com senior market analyst Samer Hasn says in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Burnham will have little room for manoeuvre amid sluggish economic growth, high public debt and strict financial rules requiring him to balance government spending against tax revenue.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

Brazil entered upon seven lean years, during which foreign trade remained stationary, the revenues increased only at the cost of heavy impositions, and the public debt grew.

From The South American Republics Part I of II by Thomas C. Dawson