1
: something owed : obligation
unable to pay off his debts
owe them a debt of gratitude
a criminal's debt to society
2
: a state of being under obligation to pay or repay someone or something in return for something received : a state of owing
deeply in debt to creditors
3
law and business
: the common-law action for the recovery of money held to be due
Synonyms
Examples of debt in a Sentence
He is trying to pay off gambling debts.
The company has run up huge debts.
Their debts are piling up.
He's been working three jobs in an attempt to get out of debt.
The company was in debt but is now turning a profit.
I am deep in debt.
I'm thousands of dollars in debt.
She went into debt to pay for college.
I'm worried that we will fall into debt.
Recent Examples on the Web
The filing also details various financial agreements, including convertible debt transactions and a licensing agreement with Advaxis, Inc.
—
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Last week, bond yields surged on expectations that President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to lower tax rates, increase tariffs and reduce regulation could ultimately lead to higher U.S. government debt and inflation, along with faster economic growth.
—Alex Veiga, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
He’s been in partnerships with prominent architects who were named as co-defendants when he was sued for yet another debt in 2019.
—Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
New debt would go toward replacing hidden debt, the report said, noting that Finance Minister Lan Fo’an spoke at the meeting on the plan.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debt 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Last week, bond yields surged on expectations that President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to lower tax rates, increase tariffs and reduce regulation could ultimately lead to higher U.S. government debt and inflation, along with faster economic growth.
—Alex Veiga, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
He’s been in partnerships with prominent architects who were named as co-defendants when he was sued for yet another debt in 2019.
—Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
New debt would go toward replacing hidden debt, the report said, noting that Finance Minister Lan Fo’an spoke at the meeting on the plan.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debt
Dictionary Entries Near debt
Cite this Entry
“Debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debt. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
debt
noun2
: something owed to another : a thing or amount due
pay a debt of $10
3
: a condition of owing
hopelessly in debt
Legal Definition
debt
noun1
: something owed: as
a
: a specific sum of money or a performance due another especially by agreement (as a loan agreement)
to pay the debts…of the United States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. Ia debt for alimony
b
: an obligation to pay or perform on another's claim
discharged the debt
compare asset, equity sense 4
Note: It is often up to the courts to decide what is or is not a debt under various laws. Courts disagree whether criminal restitution is a debt under the Bankruptcy Code.
—
antecedent debt
: debt that is incurred prior to a property transfer paying or securing the debt compare preference
—
bad debt
: a debt that cannot be collected
Note: An income tax deduction is allowed for bad debts.
—
consumer debt
: debt that is incurred by an individual primarily for the purchase of consumer goods or services compare consumer credit
—
judgment debt
: a debt established by a judgment and enforceable by a legal process (as an execution of judgment or attachment)
c
: a state of owing
in debt
d
: the aggregate of money owed
the national debt
Etymology
Old French dette, ultimately from Latin debita, plural of debitum debt, from neuter of debitus, past participle of debere to owe
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