national debt

NOUN

money owed by country

Synonyms

WEAK

budget deficit funded debt government debt public debt

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.

By extension, “the funds” referred to the British national debt, the total amount of government securities outstanding—the base of the nation’s finances.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

However, there haven’t been great improvements in the annual budget deficit and the national debt.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Sweden’s national debt office will auction a combined 8 billion Swedish kronor in June 2032- and October 2036-dated government bonds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Most recent U.S. national debt, after adding $696 billion in the first four months of the new fiscal year.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

A reasonable estimate of the additional costs for capitalizing a gradual emancipation program would have increased the national debt to about $125 million.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis