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.

Now, Hampshire’s president and board chair said the school had exhausted all other options, including land sales and refinancing existing debt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Total public debt as percent of gross domestic product stands at 122.6% External link, according to the U.S.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Persistent deficits, heavy debt issuance and inflation worries have weighed on longer-term government bonds recently.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

The group focuses on asset-based finance, corporate debt, real estate and private equity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

If crops failed or prices for tobacco and wheat fell, as they often did, farmers went into debt.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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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