debt

[det] / dɛt /

NOUN

money owed to others

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrears bill capital commitment credit damage deficit due indebtedness liability mortgage obligation price tag receipt

STRONG

IOU albatross baggage bite check chit claim cuff debenture debit dues duty encumbrance invoice manifest note reckoning responsibility score tab tally voucher

WEAK

arrearage bad news below the line dead horse in hock in the hole in the red outstandings promissory note red ink

Antonyms

STRONG

irresponsibility

WEAK

asset cash excess profit

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage failed to pay a debt of £9,400 and had a County Court judgment imposed against him in 2024.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Laura explains why the number of CCJs has increased, what your options are if you receive one, and advice on how to avoid an unpaid debt becoming a court case.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

The private-equity firm struck a deal in 2023 to take the entire business private for roughly $1.6 billion, including debt.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Tech-bond issuance competes directly with government debt and corporate debt from every other sector for the same pool of savings.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

In fact, in some jurisdictions, individuals may “choose” to go to jail as a way to reduce their debt burdens, a practice that has been challenged as unconstitutional.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Vocabulary lists containing debt

Material World: Shopping Lingo

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The Great Depression and The New Deal

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Economics

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