Definitions

deficit spending

NOUN

spending in excess of revenue or income

Synonyms

STRONGEST

budget deficit

WEAK

compensatory spending debt debt explosion deficit financing in the red megadebt negative cash flow no assets overspending paying out in excess of income pump priming

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.

That translates to higher costs for new mortgages and car loans, corporate borrowing and U.S. deficit spending.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

“Current deficit spending as a percent of GDP of 5.2% would be 6.1% without tariff revenue,” says Bill Merz, head of capital markets research at U.S.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Trade wars, deficit spending and a falling dollar helped gold prices surge 65% in 2025 and to records above $5,300 a troy ounce in January.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

The nation’s second-largest school system has been able to sustain deficit spending because of reserves left over from more than $5 billion in one-time pandemic-relief aid.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2025

Higher taxes and more ruinous levies in the newly conquered provinces could not fill the insatiable maw of deficit spending.

From Civilization and Beyond Learning from History by Nearing, Scott