national debt

noun

: the total amount of money that the government of a country owes to companies, countries, etc.

Examples of national debt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The national debt is now roughly 100% of GDP, crossing that threshold in late April, and is projected to climb to 120% by 2036. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026 The cost of servicing the national debt has tripled since 2021 to more than $1 trillion annually, said Jessica Riedl, a budget and tax fellow at the Brookings Institution. Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026 Our reality is that the American public, and thus the American electorate, refuse to take action in the face of an ever-growing national debt. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026 The cost of servicing the national debt has tripled since 2021 to more than $1 trillion annually, said Jessica Riedl, a budget and tax fellow at the Brookings Institution. ABC News, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for national debt

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“National debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/national%20debt. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on national debt

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster