national 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.

The U.S. national debt, now at 100.2% of GDP and nearing a level only reached during World War II.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

WASHINGTON—The U.S. national debt now exceeds 100% of gross domestic product, crossing a once-unthinkable threshold, on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

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

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