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.

The Congressional Budget Office predicts the official U.S. national debt will rise 20% by the end of 2028, to $36 trillion.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

The weighted average interest rate on national debt is 3.33%, up from 1.6% in 2022, with March’s net interest payment at $103 billion.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Currently, the weighted average interest rate on national debt is at 3.33%, up from its 2022 low External link of 1.6%.

From Barron's • May 4, 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

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